What does "victory" or "defeat" actually entail here? It's not as if the US risks any territory?

"If the US doesn't win, it loses. if Iran doesn't lose, it wins"

.. per [John] on Krugman's substack.

Victory or defeat as in war goal.

Trump war goal are to destroy Iranian nuclear capabilities, and to change the Iranian government.

If he succeed, victory. Otherwise, defeat.

	▲	conception 2 hours ago \| parent [-]
		I think his war goal was the change the headlines away from constant evidence of child sex trafficking. Victory I guess.