Six months in, Trump’s Iran conflict defies an early countdown

Six months after Trump said the war with Iran would last only weeks, the conflict has persisted. Iran has been battered by strikes and decades of sanctions but continues to endure, leveraging discounted oil and opaque shipping networks. The Strait of Hormuz has seen far less traffic than prewar levels, though it remains open. Mediators like Qatar and Pakistan are pushing for a diplomatic off‑ramp while the U.S. maintains a naval blockade and weighs how aggressively to expand sanctions. Analysts warn that deeper pressure may not yield the quick political gains Trump seeks.