It’s unclear what the U.S. would accomplish by bombing Iran again

The United States has demonstrated that it can strike targets deep inside Iran. Whether those strikes have brought the nuclear dispute closer to resolution is far less clear.

Now, according to recent reporting, Washington has warned regional allies to prepare for possible renewed military operations after the Nov. 3 midterm elections. President Donald Trump has not made a final decision.

Before another campaign begins, one question deserves a convincing answer: What would additional strikes accomplish that the earlier attacks did not?

The nuclear facilities have suffered substantial damage. Yet international inspectors still cannot verify the status of Iran’s previously declared stockpile of highly enriched uranium. The underlying security dispute remains unresolved, and another round of military operations could bring further retaliation.