Iran doesn't have to shoot down a single jet to win this war. Just move military hardware into caves. Sacrifice civilian infrastructure as the only viable bombing target. Wait it out until American domestic pressure from perceived war crimes ends the war. They can't afford to fight a land war or garrison over the entire country.
The fact that Israel has leveled much of the 140 square miles of gaza over the past 3 years and still fails to remove Hamas from power. No chance against 636,372 square miles and 93 million people. Worse odds than Vietnam. There isn't even a defined victory condition.
It's even worse if you consider what rational options the mullahs have. Yes, they are a murderous dictatorship and enemies of US - no question about that. But they did nothing to provoke this particular attack and they still got bombed.
Backing off without first inflicting severe pain is just not an option in this situation. It would be an invitation to get bombed at will.
North Korea, famous for attacking with nukes. Once again the only nation that has ever used nukes on another nation is the United States. If anything it is the United States that should be disarmed because there is already precedent that they will use them. Everyone else developed the bomb because of the United States having it and having a monopoly on destroying any city with a single bomb.
This is weak logic - you know darn well how difficult and costly the battle of the pacific would have been on both sides without the Nukes.
Iran is disliked by all their Arab neighbors besides Qatar.
Is NK really a success? Are they doing well? You plan to hedge long run the world needs another poorly developed pariah state with 90 million people doing suboptimal?
Iranian leadership was fine btw dying for Martyrdom. So let’s give a strongly theological government happy with Martyrdom a nuke. Because they won’t care about the consequences.
You might know technology but you are clueless about the world. Every Iranian not in Iran hates Iran.
> Sacrifice civilian infrastructure as the only viable bombing target.
I'm imagining the air crew going "Huh, there are no clear actual targets to bomb. Hey, Cleetus, command won't be happy about us not bombing anything at all, retarget on that school over there, let's get this over with and go home."
The fact that Israel has leveled much of the 140 square miles of gaza over the past 3 years and still fails to remove Hamas from power. No chance against 636,372 square miles and 93 million people. Worse odds than Vietnam. There isn't even a defined victory condition.