The memorandum of understanding that brought an end to the U.S.–Iran war has paused the fighting, but it has not ended the debate over what the conflict ultimately achieved. For political leaders, military planners and foreign policy analysts, the central question will be whether the objectives pursued during the war justified the immense costs incurred along the way. For civilians across the Middle East and beyond, however, the more pressing concern is not who gained an advantage, but what was lost.