@isaackuo @cstross The US victory conditions are for the Islamic Republic to go away. (US elite consensus that it's illegitimate, generational offense at daring to claim ownership of oil, etc.) They don't need to be Napoleon and be lauded as a conqueror. Take a look at Iran on Google Maps; switch on the traffic. Sparse transportation network, very concentrated; single export economy. Think kinetic sanctions; blow up the ability to export oil and the roads over the mountains. Mine the ports.