伊朗与美国的军事冲突已从2月底延续超过5个月，远超美方最初预计的四周时间[1]。据消息人士透露，伊朗采取不对称战争策略，通过持续改进战术和联合也门胡塞武装等方式对美军形成长期威胁，导致美军防空系统面临巨大消耗压力[1]。美军已消耗1500多枚"爱国者"拦截弹，超过2025年全年产量的两倍，现仅余不到1700枚库存[1]。每枚拦截弹造价约400万美元，驻中东美军上月曾在一天内发射大约50枚[1]。
冲突升级的军事代价引发美国决策层的战略调整。4月份，伊朗用肩扛式地空导弹击落一架价值6000万美元的美军F-15E战机，之后美军官员披露总统特朗普随即下令暂停作战[1]。7月17日，约旦穆沃费格萨勒提空军基地遭伊朗导弹击中，造成3名美军士兵死亡、超过100人受伤[1]。面对战事久拖、开支巨大和民众支持率下降的多重压力，特朗普私下告诉幕僚，他愿意在未达成核协议的情况下结束这场战事[1]。沙特王储穆罕默德两周前曾敦促特朗普取消对伊朗的大规模空袭计划[1]。
The military confrontation between Iran and the United States has persisted for more than five months since late February, extending well beyond the initial American projection of four weeks [1]. Iran has employed asymmetric warfare tactics, continuously refining its approach while depleting U.S. air defense resources. The American military has consumed over 1,500 Patriot interceptor missiles—more than twice the 2025 annual production capacity—leaving fewer than 1,700 in inventory [1]. Each Patriot missile costs approximately $4 million [1], and U.S. forces in the Middle East fired roughly 50 such missiles in a single day last month [1].
The conflict has inflicted significant casualties and material losses on American forces. On July 17, an Iranian missile strike on Al-Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan killed three U.S. soldiers and wounded more than 100 others [1]. In April, Iran destroyed an F-15E fighter jet valued at $60 million using shoulder-fired air defense missiles [1]. Despite Defense Secretary Hagerty stating in early April that Iranian missiles and launching systems had been "almost completely rendered ineffective" [1], Iran has sustained its campaign through tactics including burying missiles and coordinating with Yemeni Houthi forces [1].
The prolonged engagement is straining the Trump administration as it faces mounting military expenditures, extended deployment costs, and declining domestic support [1]. According to military officials, President Trump halted combat operations following the F-15E shootdown [1]. Additionally, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince urged Trump two weeks ago to cancel large-scale air strikes against Iran [1]. Speaking privately to his advisors, Trump indicated willingness to end the conflict without achieving a nuclear agreement, sources revealed [1].