Sanctions and bombs won’t end the war in Iran. Trump is running out of options against an intractable foe
The Trump administration is trying every tactic to get Iran to capitulate, but there is only one path forward for both sides.
The ongoing war between the United States and Iran has been characterized by a lack of resolution, as President Donald Trump finds himself without clear options to end the conflict. Initially touted as a "little excursion," the war has been dragging on for seven months with no foreseeable end. The objective of forcing Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and negotiating a deal over its nuclear program has not been achieved, despite Trump's willingness to prolong the conflict if necessary.
Recent skirmishes between the two sides have resulted in retaliatory attacks, but there have been no substantive negotiations towards a peaceful resolution. Both Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have claimed military triumph, but Tehran has swiftly rebuilt its capabilities and gained control over the critical Strait of Hormuz, setting the stage for a stalemate.
Despite the announcement of new economic sanctions aimed at strangling Iran's economy, Iran's resilience and ability to maintain trade relationships have proven effective in mitigating the impact. Diplomacy remains the only viable path to ending the war, but achieving a lasting resolution remains highly uncertain.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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