Iran’s Strategy EXPOSED: Why The US Can’t Win This War | Middle East Crisis Explained
March 28, 2026
Al Jazeera English
Top analysts break down Iran’s war strategy and why it’s proving so difficult for the United States to counter. Experts, including Ross Harrison and Harlan Ullman, explain how Iran is using a long-developed “diffusion strategy” — spreading influence across the region through allies in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen — to apply pressure without direct confrontation.
As the war escalates, the U.S. faces rising costs, expanding battlefronts, and growing political pressure at home. With the involvement of groups like the Hezbollah and the Houthis, the conflict is rapidly becoming more complex. Meanwhile, global tensions rise as oil prices surge and key routes like the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb face potential disruption. Is Iran “winning by not losing”? Subscribe to our channel: http://bit.ly/AJSubscribe Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/ Check out our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/aljazeeraenglish/ Download AJE Mobile App: https://aje.io/AJEMobile #aljazeeraenglish #BreakingNews #aljazeeralivenews #aljazeeraenglish #palestine #newsfeed #news #aljazera #latestnews #gaza #israel #Iran #BreakingNews #news 📊 Timestamps 00:00 Iran’s strategy explained 01:12 Why the US struggles to counter Iran 02:45 “Winning by not losing” concept 04:10 Rising cost of war for the US 06:20 Expanding conflict across the region 08:05 Pakistan-led diplomacy efforts 09:30 Houthi escalation & global risk 11:00 Is there any way out?
Al Jazeera English
Coverage and analysis from Qatar. All insights are generated by our AI narrative analysis engine.