According to CoinMeta, a military expert from the Institute of Law and National Security at the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration ( RANEPA ), Alexander Stepanov stated that Iran's resistance to the US military presence in the Middle East has seriously challenged the feasibility of deploying aircraft carriers. Stepanov noted that aircraft carriers are one of the most expensive tools for the US to project military power, but their effectiveness has actually been severely weakened due to their exposed vulnerabilities and the lack of means to protect such large, high-value assets. He further pointed out that the over 260-day maritime deployment, along with the inherent fragility of the ships themselves, has placed a heavy burden on the crew. This is the longest-lasting mission to date, yet it has achieved almost no substantial military results.