Five Options For A U.S. Military Response To Iran
https://www.forbes.com/sites/markcancian/2019/09/17/five-options-for-a-u-s-attack-on-iran/
The problem with USA military response is that US has limited forces on the ground and if US makes a limited strike against Iran----Iranian response is potentially DISPROPORTIONATE, and few US forces in the region will not be able to deal with the
massive consequences of a limited strike.
1) First option---limited strike on Iranian targets with Tomahawk missiles---in this case----Iran will use its military 150k troops + missiles targeting US bases in Kuwait/Qatar/ Iraq/Syria+ and numerous air force that can bomb US troops in Iraq + close the Straight of Hormuz and paralyze oil supply from the region-----
with little military resources in the region, US will not be able to stop this process.
2) Second option is to bring additional forces to the region ---6 aircraft carriers---it will take several weeks before they arrive....But even if they arrive they have many Tomahawk cruise missiles and only 360 fighter aircraft ---not enough to deal with a 80mln country but enough to enrage it. Plus since Iran has anti-ship missiles-Persian Gulf will be dangerous for US Navy and US aircraft carriers will have to operate from the Sea of Oman with little range for F-18s.
3) Third option is in addition to aircraft carriers, to deploy 700+ fighter aircraft in Saudi Arabia----again--such a deployment takes time---and these forces are not enough to deal with all the consequences of such an attack--- (Iranian ballistic missiles attack on oil refineries+ closure of the Straight of Hormuz and Iranian ground force attack on Iraq and Kuwait)
4) For dealing with DISPROPORTIONATE Iranian response there is a Fourth option - all out war-----6 month required to bring 2700 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia and 6-8 aircraft carrier battle groups and ground force-500k troops -----but in such an all out war entire region and its oil production will be destroyed.
Conclusion is that USA has no military option against Iran----any limited strike will produce DISPROPORTIONATE Iranian response with which US will not be able to deal due to lack of resources on the ground. At the same time full out war, with US bringing massive resources, will destroy the region and its oil production, resulting in a global economic downturn.