After six months of war, what have US, Iran gained and lost?

What the report says

Al Jazeera reports that six months after the US and Israel launched missile strikes on Iran on February 28, 2026, the conflict has not ended and many US aims remain unresolved. The article says Washington initially framed the operation as self-defence and later argued it had sought to cripple Iran’s nuclear programme, weaken its missile forces, stop support for regional armed groups and pressure Tehran over its oil and maritime assets.

The report says the US and Israel inflicted major damage on Iranian nuclear sites and killed top officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, but Iran is still believed to hold a large stockpile of highly enriched uranium and has not accepted US demands for zero enrichment or for handing over that material. It also says Iran’s political system remains in place under Mojtaba Khamenei, while support for groups such as Hezbollah and the Houthis continues. Iran’s missile programme likewise appears to still be operating, with the article noting continued launches during the war.

A major consequence has been disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, where shipping has fallen sharply and both sides have imposed pressure on maritime traffic. The article says Iran has used the waterway as leverage while the US has maintained a naval blockade. It also describes severe economic strain inside Iran, including a collapsing currency and rising food prices. More broadly, Al Jazeera says the war has caused thousands of deaths, tens of thousands of injuries and wider geopolitical realignment.