We are not a superpower.
After the Iranians and Iraqis fought to a stalemate and we smashed the Iraqis in 90 days in 1990, they are watching with fear and trembling. We can make them toothless in a region that demands teeth.
Your issue is with elected politicians, not the finest Navy the world has ever seen.
It is not the Navy who won't budge but the anti war congressmen & Senators who won't let them
"We are not a superpower."
What the hell are you talking about?
Iraq and Iran are two entirely different military equations.
Iraq is ours to protect and feed. We have thousands of troops there. We conquered it, and are trying to make it into a viable modern nations. Rightly or wrongly - that is our mission now.
Iran is not ours to protect and feed. We can launch devastating destruction upon that nation almost at will. Roadside bombs are not in the equation. Our Navy can sink the entire Iranian Navy in a matter of days. Our Air Force and inflict pain on the Iranian infrastructure that will paralyze the nation in a matter of weeks.
Yours is an apples versus oranges argument.
Bah, the navy is not toothless - our political leaders are. I suppose it translates to them same thing in Iranian eyes though.
If the Iranians know our politicians are too cowardly to strike, then why should they fear this navy?