... started a war for no particular reason he could articulate, ...
In real life, Iran has been waging war on the US for 47 years. That alone wouyld suffice. However, Iran has been threatening to wipe out Israel and informed US negotiators that Iran had enough weapons-grade uranium for several nuclear weapons. Whether Israel would be the sole target or Iran would threaten other neighbors, that also sufficed.... threatened to annihilate an entire civilization, ...
Ending the Mullahcracy would end their "civilization". Trump did NOT threaten mass-killing of Iranians, nor did he say no different civilization would replace the Mullahcracy.... and left his own country, not to mention the rest of the world, worse off than they were ...
In the real world, the US and rest of the world are already better off with Iran's nuclear program destroyed or much set back in time, and Iran's Mullahcracy beheaded down to the armpits....worse off than they were - except for the country he went to war with, which despite being damaged militarily, is now more powerful economically and politically than it ever was before.
Iran's navy, plus or minus a few speed boats and rust buckets is permanently submerged. Iran's air force, which was heavily dependent on patched and kludged 1970s planes, is now scrap aluminum. Iran's military is experiencing an acute and growing shortage of generals and admirals. "Damaged" is like saying the Hindenburg was singed. As for Iran's economy, it's military and dual-use industries are getting flattened. The Mullahcracy has been beheaded at the armpits. Calling Iran "more powerful economically and politically than it ever was before" is a degree of delusion that can only come from Trump Hatred.That was like shooting fish in a 5 gallon bucket with a Ma Deuce.
