Iran war reveals limits of US air power

After weeks of airstrikes, Washington faces a narrower set of options as Iran retains leverage over Hormuz ahead of upcoming talks.

Jared Szuba
Jared Szuba
Apr 10, 2026
FILE PHOTO: Two F/A-18 Super Hornets launch from the flight deck of the U.S. Navy Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in support of the Operation Epic Fury attack on Iran from an undisclosed location March 3, 2026. U.S. Navy/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY/File Photo

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Five weeks of US and Israeli airstrikes have decimated the Islamic Republic's conventional military, but have not stopped Tehran from seizing control of the Strait of Hormuz, nor convinced its leaders to relinquish their nuclear enrichment ambitions.

If diplomatic negotiations fail to resolve those US objectives, what options remain for Washington? This week, we look at how the two sides stack up ahead of planned talks in Islamabad.

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