"So what, concretely, did America win? Across the navy, the submarine force, the combat-aircraft fleet, the helicopter inventory, the ballistic-missile stockpile, and the drone arsenal, over 80% of Iran’s conventional military was destroyed, together with nearly all of the manufacturing capacity that sustained it. Replacing what was lost, at world-market prices, would run on the order of $40 billion for the conventional forces alone, and closer to $50-$55 billion once the nuclear infrastructure is counted. Set that bill against Iran’s real means. SIPRI placed Iranian military spending in 2025 at about $7.4 billion, which means the reconstitution cost equals roughly 5.3 years of the regime’s entire defense budget, and that figure politely ignores the sanctions premium, the inflation, the smuggling markups, the gutted factories, the dead engineers, and the cratered airbases that drive the true cost higher still."
Only problem with this statement is we're giving them 324 billion dollars, so almost 7 times what they need
We are spending $100 billion in Iran to destroy $50 billion of their military equipment? We succeeded in closing the Straights of Hormuz and are risking global recession? Higher gas prices help average Americans? I voted for Trump because of his campaign promise to keep us out of war.
I believe President Trump used the exact correct strategy - remove their ability to make war and to recover that ability, and then let the truth of their situation become apparent to them. All those who cried for a settlement are the same voices that allowed Iran to fund terrorism for 47 years.
Vance confirmed it today. So did representative Mast. Look them up. Vance was on CBS, Mast was on Fox. They're trying to dress it up as "well it'll come from a coalition of gulf states" or "well they'll have to agree to let inspectors in! (which obama already had)" but it's happening. 300 BILLION dollars to Iran.
And that's just part of it. Iran is going to continue to collect tolls on the strait (calling them "service fees") so gas will never fully recover, and there's an additional 24 billion we're sending them from the same fund Obama let 1.7 billion out of.
Wrong. Those two words don't actually alter reality.
The specific amount may be off, but Iran will be receiving hundreds of billions of dollars, much of it through the Gulf States. And that's beyond the unfreezing of their own assets.
You're giving me Andy McCarthy as your source? Let me take a moment while I laugh. I use other sources, such as VP Vance and Pres. Trump. McCarthy disapproves.
```"Walk through some of this. The Iranians are saying that they're gonna have access to a $300 billion reconstruction fund, true or false?" O'Keefe began.
"Well, Ed, that's the sort of thing they could have access to, funded by the Gulf coast coalition, so long as they honor their end of the obligation. I think that one of the things you're going to see, Ed—and people have to be skeptical of this—is that the hardliners in the Iranian system will overemphasize the benefits that Iran gets, while underemphasizing all the things that they have to concede and all the things they have to provide in order to get these benefits,"```
Who do you think is going to fund this mysterious gulf coast coalition? You think Bahrain is going to step up with 300 billion dollars? Please.
We ended their oil sanctions completely today and Trump is even saying he's not concerned about the nuclear material either.
The link is not available. The quote seems to say Iran is expecting $300 billion as reparations. The quote I heard on Fox from JD Vance was that the gulf states may make a contribution, but the US was not. That’s a politician making a political statement, so it may or may not be totally true. Given that, what is your contention? I see a quote but no analysis on your part.
```"Walk through some of this. The Iranians are saying that they're gonna have access to a $300 billion reconstruction fund, true or false?" O'Keefe began.
"Well, Ed, that's the sort of thing they could have access to, funded by the Gulf coast coalition, so long as they honor their end of the obligation. I think that one of the things you're going to see, Ed—and people have to be skeptical of this—is that the hardliners in the Iranian system will overemphasize the benefits that Iran gets, while underemphasizing all the things that they have to concede and all the things they have to provide in order to get these benefits,"```
There's Vance, on TV yesterday, saying we're going to be working with the 'gulf coast coalition' to give Iran 300 billion dollars as part of this deal.
Your most self-debasing piece in months. Iran stronger than before, with many billions of dollars heading their way to help rebuild everything, and more. US weaker than previously, no longer "in charge" of Persian Gulf - paving the way for China.
Operation EPIC FURY (the “war” with Iran) - just another “kick of the can” … & another case of lack of will, risk aversion, denial of reality, & strategic failure.
Bravo, appreciate your views. I guess those deniers would rather have waited for Iran to start annihilating all its neighboring countries to prove Trump did what needed doing. A short time for gas price increases to bring more long standing peace to the region is a small price to pay here. I would prefer no wars, but this one proves us to be smart and powerful more than most ever knew. Running away from terrorists or trying to pay them off never worked prior. We tried that for decades……
LMAO yeah sure. Then let us see the memorandum of understanding? No? Israel can't see it, we can't see it, Vance is on TV saying they're getting 300 billion dollars, and we just ended their oil sanctions today.
They're getting your money. 300 billion dollars worth and then some. Wake up and smeeeellllllllll that coffee.
Well at least they’re reading. That’s a start. TDS is alive and sickening. I don’t approve of all trump does, I voted for him. But on Iran I agree 100%. On Covid not so much. Trump is very stubborn, but on Iran I give him a 👍!
These people literally believe any propaganda that comes their way, especially if they think it reflects badly on Trump. They end up looking stupid, of course.
I think I'll file this in the "Counting chickens before they are hatched" folder. Along with "Peace in Our Time"; "The War to End All Wars"; and Zhou Enlai's "It's too early to say."
Agree with a lot of this piece, but believe it is rather misguided in the big picture. Every estimate of "time" to rebuild or reconstitute military infrastructure always grossly extends the timeline beyond what is actually required. Russia and / or China can make their timeline to "reasonably reloaded" mere months if they choose to. The problem is the regime. And the regime remains in place courtesy of one Donald J Trump. Trump went from, literally, encouraging the people to rise up, to having the Islamist theocracy in the cross hairs for the kill shot, to throwing the worst regime on the planet the lifeline to perpetual rule and survival! That regime will most certainly retaliate a levels never before seen against any and all within Iran who stoodd against it, credible reports say they already killing in mass. Launching the war, while a giant risk, was likely the right thing to do given the last 47 yrs of Iranian history. Long past time they were truly gone. But they are not gone. That hideous regime is assured of power in near perpetuity and it is an absolute certainty they will continue to pursue the same course against Israel and the rest of the world they have pursued for the prior 47 yrs. Trump truly earned the TACO moniker on this one, perpetually claiming there was a deal and perpetually backing away from finishing a job that should have been rather easy to finish. Worse, the current "deal" is not a deal at all. Just a deal to keep talking about a deal while he declares victory. I voted for Trump 5x, 2 primaries and 3 generals. So I am no troll But I am aggravated that Trump 2.0 is the same wanker that allowed Fauchi to drag Trump 1.0 around by the nose and ruin his 1st term. I believed Trump had learned from his errors. I was wrong.
"So what, concretely, did America win? Across the navy, the submarine force, the combat-aircraft fleet, the helicopter inventory, the ballistic-missile stockpile, and the drone arsenal, over 80% of Iran’s conventional military was destroyed, together with nearly all of the manufacturing capacity that sustained it. Replacing what was lost, at world-market prices, would run on the order of $40 billion for the conventional forces alone, and closer to $50-$55 billion once the nuclear infrastructure is counted. Set that bill against Iran’s real means. SIPRI placed Iranian military spending in 2025 at about $7.4 billion, which means the reconstitution cost equals roughly 5.3 years of the regime’s entire defense budget, and that figure politely ignores the sanctions premium, the inflation, the smuggling markups, the gutted factories, the dead engineers, and the cratered airbases that drive the true cost higher still."
Only problem with this statement is we're giving them 324 billion dollars, so almost 7 times what they need
Lasting Peace?? Just until the World Cup ends.
This “peace” deal is literally so the people who killed everyone on both sides can watch soccer ⚽️.
Why?? Was the deal announced yesterday at 5:30pm Eastern?
Just in time to Escort the Iranian 🇮🇷 Soccer team across the boarder from Tijuana for tonight’s big game.
FOX Sports 1 coverage of Iran vs New Zealand tonight at 6pm Pacific. Live from SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, California, USA 🇺🇸
P.S. Anyone living near the gulf should stay alert after July 19th the final match.
This is not a joke.
😂😂😂😂 not yet. We heard that from Trump several times.
This deal is a crock of shit.
We are spending $100 billion in Iran to destroy $50 billion of their military equipment? We succeeded in closing the Straights of Hormuz and are risking global recession? Higher gas prices help average Americans? I voted for Trump because of his campaign promise to keep us out of war.
And it's worse now. The terms of our surrender is we're all paying higher taxes for a new 300 billion dollar payment that Vance confirmed today.
You're incredibly small minded.
I believe President Trump used the exact correct strategy - remove their ability to make war and to recover that ability, and then let the truth of their situation become apparent to them. All those who cried for a settlement are the same voices that allowed Iran to fund terrorism for 47 years.
Yeah I'm sure they won't be able to find terrorism with the THREE HUBDRED BILLION DOLLARS we're sending them as terms of our surrender
Jesus Christ
Fake news. Good grief. 🙄
Vance confirmed it today. So did representative Mast. Look them up. Vance was on CBS, Mast was on Fox. They're trying to dress it up as "well it'll come from a coalition of gulf states" or "well they'll have to agree to let inspectors in! (which obama already had)" but it's happening. 300 BILLION dollars to Iran.
And that's just part of it. Iran is going to continue to collect tolls on the strait (calling them "service fees") so gas will never fully recover, and there's an additional 24 billion we're sending them from the same fund Obama let 1.7 billion out of.
Wrong. Those two words don't actually alter reality.
The specific amount may be off, but Iran will be receiving hundreds of billions of dollars, much of it through the Gulf States. And that's beyond the unfreezing of their own assets.
Link please. Actual quote.
Any reporting outside your little world. Or even in it.
National Review too lefty for you now?
https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/the-trump-administration-thinks-were-imbeciles/
Own yourself by typing "TDS."
You're giving me Andy McCarthy as your source? Let me take a moment while I laugh. I use other sources, such as VP Vance and Pres. Trump. McCarthy disapproves.
`www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/jd-vance-says-iran-could-162638756.html`
there's the link, heres the quote:
```"Walk through some of this. The Iranians are saying that they're gonna have access to a $300 billion reconstruction fund, true or false?" O'Keefe began.
"Well, Ed, that's the sort of thing they could have access to, funded by the Gulf coast coalition, so long as they honor their end of the obligation. I think that one of the things you're going to see, Ed—and people have to be skeptical of this—is that the hardliners in the Iranian system will overemphasize the benefits that Iran gets, while underemphasizing all the things that they have to concede and all the things they have to provide in order to get these benefits,"```
Who do you think is going to fund this mysterious gulf coast coalition? You think Bahrain is going to step up with 300 billion dollars? Please.
We ended their oil sanctions completely today and Trump is even saying he's not concerned about the nuclear material either.
The link is not available. The quote seems to say Iran is expecting $300 billion as reparations. The quote I heard on Fox from JD Vance was that the gulf states may make a contribution, but the US was not. That’s a politician making a political statement, so it may or may not be totally true. Given that, what is your contention? I see a quote but no analysis on your part.
Not fake - https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/iran-us-agree-halt-war-reopen-hormuz-sending-oil-prices-tumbling-2026-06-15/
That is fake news. If you haven't figured the Iranian scheming by now, you're lost
Vance literally said we're giving them 300 billion on CBS today.
Representative Mast was on Fox saying we're giving them between 300 and 500 billion.
He literally did not. Try going to Vance's account rather than the Dems, media or the IRGC.
```"Walk through some of this. The Iranians are saying that they're gonna have access to a $300 billion reconstruction fund, true or false?" O'Keefe began.
"Well, Ed, that's the sort of thing they could have access to, funded by the Gulf coast coalition, so long as they honor their end of the obligation. I think that one of the things you're going to see, Ed—and people have to be skeptical of this—is that the hardliners in the Iranian system will overemphasize the benefits that Iran gets, while underemphasizing all the things that they have to concede and all the things they have to provide in order to get these benefits,"```
There's Vance, on TV yesterday, saying we're going to be working with the 'gulf coast coalition' to give Iran 300 billion dollars as part of this deal.
```More than half of the $300 billion Iran investment fund has already been secured in commitments from the US. -Reuters```
They're just going to grow it back now FFS 🤦🏼🤡
Your most self-debasing piece in months. Iran stronger than before, with many billions of dollars heading their way to help rebuild everything, and more. US weaker than previously, no longer "in charge" of Persian Gulf - paving the way for China.
Operation EPIC FURY (the “war” with Iran) - just another “kick of the can” … & another case of lack of will, risk aversion, denial of reality, & strategic failure.
Bravo, appreciate your views. I guess those deniers would rather have waited for Iran to start annihilating all its neighboring countries to prove Trump did what needed doing. A short time for gas price increases to bring more long standing peace to the region is a small price to pay here. I would prefer no wars, but this one proves us to be smart and powerful more than most ever knew. Running away from terrorists or trying to pay them off never worked prior. We tried that for decades……
Guess what, we're still trying it. Vance confirmed in an interview today we're giving Iran 300billion dollars as part of the terms of our surrender.
Trump just confirmed we’re giving Iran NO MONEY!
LMAO yeah sure. Then let us see the memorandum of understanding? No? Israel can't see it, we can't see it, Vance is on TV saying they're getting 300 billion dollars, and we just ended their oil sanctions today.
They're getting your money. 300 billion dollars worth and then some. Wake up and smeeeellllllllll that coffee.
"Every price is down" - Constant, ongoing lie
"We reduced prescription drug prices by 500, 600, 2,000%, 3,000%"
"Obama, Biden and Comey made up the Epstein files"
"Foreign countries pay the US government’s tariffs"
"Every drug boat in the Caribbean kills 25,000 Americans"
"I ended nine wars"
“You give 82 vaccines in a shot to a little baby that hasn’t even formed yet.”
“Mexico Will Pay for the Big Beautiful Wall”
“I Built the Greatest Economy in History” - throughout 2025 and 2026
“The Economy Was a Disaster Before Me”
Great article with a clear explanation. From the comments above it looks like the trolls have discovered you, Amuse.
Well at least they’re reading. That’s a start. TDS is alive and sickening. I don’t approve of all trump does, I voted for him. But on Iran I agree 100%. On Covid not so much. Trump is very stubborn, but on Iran I give him a 👍!
These people literally believe any propaganda that comes their way, especially if they think it reflects badly on Trump. They end up looking stupid, of course.
Sigh...it was inevitable. They can't stand folks who enjoy intelligent conversation.
It signals that Alexander has "arrived".
I want to believe my Persian friends who tell me that the regime is finished. That would be the best outcome.
Thank you for this clear essay.
What we won is the Petrodollar is now American Petroleum.
We don’t need the headache anymore.
Fuck the Middle East. All of them. I have been there too much.
I think I'll file this in the "Counting chickens before they are hatched" folder. Along with "Peace in Our Time"; "The War to End All Wars"; and Zhou Enlai's "It's too early to say."
Best summary of the Iranian future / decision making processes during their FO phase
Agree with a lot of this piece, but believe it is rather misguided in the big picture. Every estimate of "time" to rebuild or reconstitute military infrastructure always grossly extends the timeline beyond what is actually required. Russia and / or China can make their timeline to "reasonably reloaded" mere months if they choose to. The problem is the regime. And the regime remains in place courtesy of one Donald J Trump. Trump went from, literally, encouraging the people to rise up, to having the Islamist theocracy in the cross hairs for the kill shot, to throwing the worst regime on the planet the lifeline to perpetual rule and survival! That regime will most certainly retaliate a levels never before seen against any and all within Iran who stoodd against it, credible reports say they already killing in mass. Launching the war, while a giant risk, was likely the right thing to do given the last 47 yrs of Iranian history. Long past time they were truly gone. But they are not gone. That hideous regime is assured of power in near perpetuity and it is an absolute certainty they will continue to pursue the same course against Israel and the rest of the world they have pursued for the prior 47 yrs. Trump truly earned the TACO moniker on this one, perpetually claiming there was a deal and perpetually backing away from finishing a job that should have been rather easy to finish. Worse, the current "deal" is not a deal at all. Just a deal to keep talking about a deal while he declares victory. I voted for Trump 5x, 2 primaries and 3 generals. So I am no troll But I am aggravated that Trump 2.0 is the same wanker that allowed Fauchi to drag Trump 1.0 around by the nose and ruin his 1st term. I believed Trump had learned from his errors. I was wrong.