Redefining Victory in the Shadow of Operation Epic Fury and the Persistent Iranian Threat

Jonathan Schanzer explores how the U.S. can achieve victory in Operation Epic Fury despite Iran’s refusal to surrender and its use of asymmetric economic war.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 19, 2026, 12:13 PM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from FDD

The Domestic Polarization of Military Success

The ongoing military conflict with Iran has ignited a domestic debate regarding the definition of victory that is as intense as the physical combat. According to Jonathan Schanzer, a significant portion of this friction stems from the polarized perception of the commander in chief. Critics of the administration are often viewed as rooting for the clerical regime’s resilience simply to deny the president a political win. This internal division complicates the mission, as the president utilizes a posture of maximum flexibility to keep both domestic adversaries and the Iranian leadership guessing. For those separating the man from the mission, the central question remains what a tangible victory looks like when the enemy refuses to concede.

Strategic Modesty versus Total Regime Collapse

Since the onset of Operation Epic Fury on February 28, the administration has pursued goals that are notably more modest than those of its Israeli partners. While Israel seeks the total downfall of the Islamic Republic, the U.S. has focused on eliminating top leadership figures—including the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei—and degrading the regime’s nuclear and missile infrastructure. This restrained approach is designed to satisfy a domestic political base that is wary of returning to the protracted ground wars that followed the 2001 terrorist attacks. However, Schanzer notes that declaring victory is difficult when the enemy responds by targeting global energy chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz.

The Evolution of Asymmetric Economic Warfare

The Iranian regime has successfully countered Western air superiority by launching a devastating asymmetric economic campaign. By attacking vessels and critical infrastructure in the Persian Gulf, Iran effectively cut off access to 20 percent of the world’s oil supply, spooking global markets. This strategy aimed to make the conflict too costly for the United States and its allies to sustain. Although a brief ceasefire occurred in early April, its failure has forced the administration to seek a resolution that not only wins on the battlefield but also renders the regime’s economic weaponry harmless.