New Delhi, July 17 -- the peace deal, Tehran announced, was void. What began weeks ago as a campaign the United States called calibrated and targeted now carries a different name in Tehran. Officials there are calling it an existential war.

The United States military struck Bandar Abbas, Ahvaz, and Iranshahr on the night of July 15 into 16, targeting what American commanders describe as Iran's offensive military infrastructure. It was the sixth consecutive night of strikes since the operation intensified. President Trump declared the United States is "knocking out all of Iran's offensive capability." Neither side has released casualty figures from the six nights of strikes.

Iran's military did not confine its response to declarations. S...