Scholars of international relations regard modern Iran as the world’s only theocratic republic. What this means is that the country combines elements of two governing systems. Voters elect a parliament and president, but the higher power rests with religious councils and a supreme leader whose authority is derived from God. (This is different from, say, Israel, whose religious institutions have no constitutional power.) There are plenty of republics in the world, and a scattering of small theocracies, but only in Iran do you find a functioning amalgam of both.

I mention this because I think it gets to an overlooked irony about the stalemated war. While Donald Trump threatens, repeatedly, to obliterate the Iranian state, he seems increasingly inclined toward creating his own theocratic republic right here at home. Repeatedly and strikingly, since the missiles starting flying in February, Trump and his Cabinet members have portrayed the war as a kind of modern crusade, ordained by God through some communication that only they can hear.

Trump says God wants America to win the war, while aides parade evangelical leaders through the Oval Office to lay hands on the president. His creepy defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, explicitly compared the downing and rescue of an American airman over the Easter holiday to the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. According to reporting from The Guardian, some military leaders have fired up their troops by preaching that Trump is anointed by Jesus and has begun the march toward Armageddon. (Apparently, this is good thing.)