America doesn't want to pay the price of handling Iran. There's a difference. Clearly the US could conquer Iran but it requires a land war with mass casualties, not just sporadic bombing.

Obviously China is in an entirely different league.

> Clearly the US could conquer Iran

Vietnam (and Ukraine) would like a word

Korea & Afghanistan too.

The consequences of the Iraq blunder are also still resonating.

> America doesn't want to pay the price of handling Iran.

And Iran has wisely not provoked the US public by launching terrorist attacks against the “homeland”.

"I can afford ferrari. I just don't want to pay the price."