By Amjad Qaimkhani
WASHINGTON: More than two months into a conflict that has yet to deliver a decisive military or diplomatic outcome, President Donald Trump is facing the growing prospect of a prolonged standoff with Iran that could outlast its initial political and strategic framing, leaving Washington and its allies exposed to wider instability.
Despite sustained US and Israeli strikes that officials say have significantly degraded Iranian military capabilities, neither side has been able to impose clear strategic leverage. Instead, both Washington and Tehran have maintained public confidence in their respective positions, with diplomatic channels remaining strained and no credible exit pathway emerging.
Iran recently submitted a revised proposal through intermediaries to restart negotiations, but Trump dismissed it on Friday, signaling little appetite for compromise at this stage. The political implications for the US president are increasingly pronounced.
A drawn-out conflict is expected to sustain pressure on global energy markets, including elevated fuel prices in the United States, at a time when Trump’s domestic approval ratings have been slipping. Republicans, too, face potential political exposure ahead of November’s midterm elections, with economic volatility likely to feature prominently in campaigning.
While the administration has framed its objectives in shifting terms, from limiting Iran’s nuclear ambitions to constraining its regional influence, many of those goals remain unfulfilled. Iran continues to insist on its right to enrich uranium for civilian purposes, while Western intelligence assessments suggest that key elements of its nuclear stockpile may still be intact despite repeated strikes.
