Without a coalition of fools, the US has zero odds of success in that first step. It wouldn't be a long war of insurgency, it would just be a long war.
Iran is far bigger, far more capable, and far more difficult to wage war in than Iraq ever was.
the world would be aghast... but they already are?
Trump's approval rating has a floor of 40%, but that would likely send it to the 30s, and turn MAGA into a 30-seat party.
If you go to war with a country, you cannot allow the country to exist in any form if you truely wish the 'win a war'.
It's a modern, wierd, primarily US based 'design of war', we learned from the cold war. Go in, destabalize it enough, ensure a coup every couple of years, so that region cannot ever be a material threat to you (like the ottoman empire)
and Canada
and Hawaii
The fact that we've invaded every bordering country with the intent to conquer kind of invalidates your argument...