In its decision to launch a war against Iran in a bid to gain exclusive control over access to Persian oil and gas resources, the United States has ignored a harsh reality: Geography trumps military power.

Iran’s mountainous terrain dominates the entire northern shore of the Persian Gulf, including the Strait of Hormuz maritime chokepoint. The American military juggernaut, built around dazzling technology, has been stalled by the remnants of a battered Iranian military poorly equipped with low-tech weapons.