What happened
In a podcast aired on August 27, prominent US international relations scholar and University of Chicago political science professor John Mearsheimer said the US government no longer has any military cards to play against Iran.
Mearsheimer noted that in the early stages of military operations against Iran, the US held a dominant position in the use of force and believed it could achieve its goals through military strikes.
Over time, he said, the US government tried every available means, but all of them proved ineffective, and the Iranians remain standing.
Why it matters
This assessment from a leading academic suggests that Washington's military leverage over Iran has been exhausted, pointing to a possible shift in strategic thinking about the long-running confrontation.
If a prominent scholar publicly argues that military tools are no longer viable, it could reinforce debates within US policy circles about the need to pursue non-military approaches toward Iran.
Key facts
Mearsheimer is a political science professor at the University of Chicago.
He made the remarks on a podcast that aired on August 27 local time.
He said the US initially dominated in the use of force against Iran but later found all measures ineffective.
What to watch next
Whether Mearsheimer's view gains traction among other US foreign policy analysts and influences public discussion on Iran strategy.
How Washington might adjust its approach toward Iran if military options are widely perceived as exhausted.