Why Did a “Three-Day Victory” Turn into Strikes on Infrastructure?
WANA (Apr 04) – A while after their imposed war on Iran, Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu moved from the idea of achieving a quick victory over Iran to actions such as targeting infrastructure, including bridges, hospitals, industries, and scientific centers.
This shift is often interpreted as a sign of the gap between initial expectations and the complex realities on the ground.
In this context, one point of comparison is the situation of Iran under sanctions versus domestic conditions in the United States. The U.S. is described as facing very high levels of debt—around $39 trillion—along with notable infrastructure challenges.
After the 2016 election, Donald Trump, in an interview with ABC News, criticized the deteriorating state of U.S. infrastructure, stating that the country even struggled to fund certain construction projects like schools. He also pointed out that roads, bridges, tunnels, and airports were in poor condition and argued that the costs of Middle East wars could have been used for domestic rebuilding.
Later, in 2021, Nancy Pelosi warned about the decline of infrastructure, including roads, bridges, water systems, and the power grid.
Joe Biden, speaking in Wisconsin, said that one out of every five miles of road was in poor condition, more than half of the bridges were over 50 years old, and thousands of bridges had structural issues.
He also mentioned that hundreds of bridges were unsafe for trucks, that water in places like Milwaukee was contaminated with lead, and that millions of homes and hundreds of thousands of schools were at risk.
People walk as smoke rises in the background after a reported strike on Shahran fuel tanks, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran, Iran, March 8, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)
In contrast, Iran, despite sanctions, has made progress in several scientific and technological fields. These include missile technology, nuclear science, nanotechnology, biotechnology, stem cells, aerospace, and pharmaceuticals. It is also claimed that Iran has localized parts of complex technologies in oil, petrochemical, and infrastructure sectors.
Some statistics indicate that Iran’s scientific growth rate has, at times, been reported as up to 11 times the global average. Iran is also described as being among leading countries in nanotechnology, holding a notable position in biotechnology, and being one of the countries with a full nuclear fuel cycle and satellite launch capabilities.
In addition, some Israeli military officials have acknowledged Iran’s technical capabilities. Uzi Rubin, former head of Israel’s missile program, described the accuracy and power of Iranian missiles such as the Fateh-110 as significant, noting their ability to cause large-scale destruction. He also highlighted the precision of Iran’s long-range missiles and described these achievements as noteworthy given the sanctions.
Herzl Halevi has also stated that while Israel has experienced scientific growth, Iran’s growth rate has been faster, potentially affecting the future technical balance. He emphasized that modern conflict is not only physical but also involves a “battle of minds,” where messaging and influence can impact morale.
Overall, this perspective suggests that the shift from claims of a rapid victory to more forceful actions may reflect the difficulty of achieving initial objectives. At the same time, the stated goals—such as supporting the Iranian people—remain subject to differing interpretations and debate.
Strikes on Karaj Infrastructure; B1 Bridge and Innovation Factory Damaged
WANA (Apr 02) – Earlier today, the Azimiyeh area in Karaj in Iran came under attack for the second time within a few hours, targeting key infrastructure and causing significant damage. According to field reports, the B1 Bridge—considered one of the region’s major engineering projects—sustained serious damage in the strikes. The bridge, which was […]
