We should cut to the chase and tell it the way it is:
The USA considers _Mullah-Iran a great asset in the ME. This smoke screen of ” US wanted to do something but somehow ended up unable to” has dissipated long time ago and the view is very clear now. The USA will destroy all the countries surrounding Iran while publicly talking war with Iran.
The USA needs Iran as the mail destabiliser of the ME.
If and when Iran decides not to become a menace to its neighbors, it will be destroyed by the USA.
All Iran has to do is chill out and enjoy the spoils of two wars that were foughts for Iran’s glory: Afghanistan and Iraq.
Make no mistake about it: the last two wars were designed to give Iran the influence Iran craved and the USA craved on behalf of Iran.
