U.S. military operations against Iran since February 2026 have centered on airstrikes, missile intercepts, and naval actions to degrade capabilities and secure the Strait of Hormuz, without committing large-scale ground forces for occupation. The Trump administration has prioritized air and sea power, sanctions, blockades, and intermediary negotiations over invasion, amid munitions constraints, high logistical barriers in Iran’s terrain, and a focus on achievable objectives like missile and nuclear threats. Ceasefire efforts, the June memorandum of understanding, and renewed economic pressure in August reflect trader consensus that escalation to boots-on-the-ground remains unlikely before 2027.