Iran Conflict Enters Sixth Month With No Off-Ramp as Regional Powers Push for Peace
The US-Iran war hits six months with no end in sight. Pakistan pushes diplomacy to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, while Trump says he has no time schedule.
The war between the United States and Iran has reached the six-month mark, far exceeding President Donald Trump's initial forecast of a four-to-five-week conflict. Despite repeated assertions that the U.S. is "winning very big," no off-ramp has emerged, and a June memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the war has collapsed.
Pakistan has stepped up its diplomatic efforts, saying it is continuing to work toward ending the conflict and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway, through which roughly 20% of the world's oil once passed, has been largely closed since the war began, driving up global fuel and fertilizer prices.
In an interview with Al Jazeera, Trump said he has "no time schedule" for resolving the conflict. The war has undercut his campaign pledge to avoid foreign entanglements and is now a political liability for Republicans holding narrow majorities in Congress.
While the U.S. has achieved tactical successes in degrading Iran's military capabilities, several key objectives Trump laid out at the start of the conflict remain unfulfilled. The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, now a primary goal, was not among the original war aims.