US and Israel assess air strikes won't topple Iran regime, opt for siege

US and Israeli officials reportedly conclude that an air strike cannot topple Iran's regime, leading to a strategy of economic and military siege. The deployment of carrier strike group and fighter squadrons signals pressure, but the White House is wary of casualties and fuel price spikes ahead of midterms. This marks a shift from military action to containment, with uncertain effectiveness against Khamenei's stubbornness.