The U.S. military operation against Iran has dealt a significant blow to President Donald Trump’s reputation, British journalist Martin Jay writes in an opinion piece for Strategic Culture.

In his analysis, Jay argues that Washington made a critical misstep by pushing Iran to a point where it no longer sees any incentive to step back. The conflict, he suggests, has given Tehran valuable battlefield experience and revealed military capabilities that had previously remained largely theoretical.

As a result, Iran has drawn firm conclusions from the confrontation and strengthened its defensive capacity, becoming less inclined to make concessions.

At the same time, Jay notes that securing an agreement with Tehran has become a priority for Trump, as the United States has encountered a range of serious challenges during the conflict.

He also links the current situation to Trump’s earlier decision to withdraw from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2018, an agreement that Iran had been observing. According to Jay, this move has directly contributed to the difficulties Washington now faces.

Meanwhile, acting Pentagon comptroller Jules Hurst reported that U.S. spending on the operation against Iran has reached $25 billion, with the bulk of the funds allocated to munitions.