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Iranian attacks and their capabilities have caught the U.S. military off guard. Washington may have entered the war expecting a swift campaign, but Iran has shown it can strike back, absorb punishment, and keep the conflict going. And the costs for the world's superpower are rising fast. According to the Defense Department's war casualty database, more than 750 U.S. service members have been wounded since America launched its war against Iran on February 28th. The Pentagon's casualty database has pushed the exact number of wounded to 757 in a war that was supposed to deliver a decisive blow against Tehran. Instead, the conflict is becoming a test of American military power, endurance, and strategy. According to the Defense Department's Defense Casualty Analysis System, when casualties listed under overseas operations are combined with those recorded under Operation Epic Fury, the toll stands at 18 U.S. service members killed, 757 wounded, and the numbers continue to rise as Washington and Tehran remain deadlocked over efforts to end the war. The Pentagon updated its database on August 19th, adding more than 50 wounded service members to the tally. But questions remain over exactly where some of these casualties occurred. The Pentagon has not specified which conflict those casualties are linked to. The Defense Department created a new overseas operations category last month for service members killed or wounded, starting July 7th. That date is significant. July 7th was the day President Donald Trump's administration informed Congress that a new conflict with Iran had begun under the War Powers Act. Last month, the number of killed and wounded troops actually fell in the official database, even as Iranian attacks continued. Four deaths and dozens of injuries disappeared from the figures. They were later restored. The Pentagon blamed what it called temporary data disruptions. CNN had previously reported that the Pentagon was slow to disclose wounded troops during the conflict, with officials citing security concerns. Now, with the wounded toll crossing 750, the scale of the casualties is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. And with negotiations stalled and the Strait of Hormuz still at the center of the confrontation, the path toward an end to the conflict remains uncertain. Well, we have things that we could sanction. We have very draconian sanctions. And we'll see what happens. Right now, the strait is open. A lot of boats are coming through. People aren't reporting that. And that may slow down a little bit at some point. But right now, a lot of boats are coming through. The naval blockade has been extremely effective. Zero. I mean, literally, while it's up, and it's been for quite a while, you know, except for a couple of little pauses where we opened it purposely at — with a deal. But the deal didn't terminate — you know, the deal didn't turn out to be what they said, you know, when they tell us one thing and they do another. But the blockade has been 100 percent successful. No boats have gotten into Iran, but they are getting in for other places. But we'll see. We're going to see what happens. It'll either be extremely good and oil prices are going to drop like a rock, or we'll continue to do exactly what we're doing. You know, they were talking about $350 a barrel, and it's today $84, $85. And we are getting a lot of oil out. Donald Trump has unleashed one of his strongest threats yet against Iran, declaring what he calls the most crushing economic operation ever taken against any country, as negotiations between Washington and Tehran remain completely deadlocked after months of conflict. In a fiery truth social post, the U.S. president accused Iran of wasting its final opportunity to strike a deal and warned that Tehran would now face economic warfare and isolation on an unprecedented scale, signaling a dramatic escalation in America's pressure campaign. Trump did not stop with Iran alone, because he also issued a blunt warning to every country, company, and financial institution doing business with Tehran, saying anyone providing Iran with a financial lifeline would face tremendous economic consequences from the United States. Oil smuggling networks, cash transfers, exchange houses, shipping registries, swap lines, and front companies were all singled out by Trump, who demanded that every channel helping Iran survive economically must stop immediately, calling the move Economic D-Day. The deal didn't turn out to be what they said, you know, when they tell us one thing and they do another. But the blockade has been 100 percent successful. No boats have gotten into Iran, but they are getting in for other places. But we'll see. We're going to see what happens. It'll either be extremely good and oil prices are going to drop like a rock, or we'll continue to do exactly what we're doing. You know, they were talking about $350 a barrel, and it's today $84, $85. And we are getting a lot of oil out. The latest warning comes as the Trump administration continues Operation Economic Fury, a sweeping campaign launched earlier this year to choke Iran's economy through sanctions targeting its oil exports, shipping industry, and financial system. Washington has already imposed severe restrictions on Iranian energy revenues and intensified efforts to disrupt companies and tankers accused of facilitating Tehran's global oil trade, leaving analysts questioning what additional pressure the United States can still impose. Despite Trump's dramatic announcement, officials have not revealed any new sanctions or concrete economic measures, raising fresh questions over whether this is the beginning of an even tougher crackdown or another high-stakes warning aimed at forcing Iran back to the negotiating table. NATO says it is prepared for any Iranian threat in Europe, but the warning follows a report that Tehran may be considering strikes on U.S. military targets located on European soil if Washington escalates the war. The Financial Times reports that Iranian officials have discussed possible targets in southeastern Europe, including American-linked facilities in Bulgaria and Cyprus. The report describes contingency planning reportedly linked to the possibility of a renewed U.S. offensive against Iran. One facility mentioned is Bulgaria's Besmir Air Base, which reportedly approved the use of its runway and infrastructure for U.S. refueling aircraft. Cyprus was also reportedly considered because of its British military bases and its importance to Western air operations across the eastern Mediterranean. The alleged targets are not necessarily European cities or civilian infrastructure. They are U.S. and allied military facilities that could support American strikes, logistics, or surveillance operations against Iran. NATO responded by saying the alliance is ready to address any threat and will do whatever is necessary to defend all member states. A NATO official pointed to four earlier occasions when alliance air defenses intercepted ballistic missiles heading toward Turkey from Iran. NATO says those interceptions demonstrate that its deterrence and defense posture remain strong and effective. The more difficult question is why Europe is being pulled into the conflict at all. Washington is using military facilities, refueling sites, and transit routes across allied countries to maintain pressure on Iran. From Tehran's perspective, those facilities are not neutral infrastructure if they help sustain American operations. That creates a serious dilemma for European governments. If the United States escalates from European facilities, European governments may discover that they are not merely hosting American power, they are inheriting the consequences of American policy.