More than a century ago, Theodore Roosevelt spoke about his approach to foreign policy with a phrase that has survived generations: “Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.” The lesson was never simply that America should possess crushing military power. Military power is most effective when used with restraint, credibility, and a clear understanding of what it is supposed to accomplish.

Five months into America’s conflict with Iran, President Donald Trump should heed this lesson. The United States indisputably carries the biggest stick. We have devastated Iranian military capabilities and demonstrated the overwhelming power of the U.S. Armed Forces. Military superiority is not the same as strategic success.

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At the beginning of this conflict, Americans heard broad commitments about what military force would accomplish: Iran’s missile capability would be destroyed, its nuclear ambitions ended, and its ability to destabilize the region crippled. At various stages, the rhetoric........

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