US-Iran Conflict Resumes with No Clear End in Sight
Failing to reach a peace agreement, hostilities between the US and Iran have resumed, with mediation efforts failing. Experts predict the conflict will continue due to lack of trust and clear direction from both sides.
The US and Iran have failed to agree on peace, and hostilities have resumed without a clearly foreseeable end. According to media reports, attempts by Arab, Pakistani, and other mediators to restart talks or restore a ceasefire have failed. The general sentiment is that the fighting will continue for now.
A former US official who wished to remain anonymous and still maintains contact with the Trump administration said the White House lacks a clear direction, so the situation will persist for some time, as there is no trust between the two nations. The resumption of hostilities means the US naval blockade is back in effect, while Iran has launched several attacks against US allies in the Persian Gulf. President Donald Trump has made it clear that Iran must relinquish control of the Strait of Hormuz. However, Iran still remains capable of threatening shipping lanes with drones and missiles.
Former National Security Council chief Fred Fleitz stated that he believes Trump will seek to ensure Iran cannot threaten traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. He predicted a so-called "lawn mower" strategy, where both sides would only respond to military provocations, and the US would have to wait for the Iranian people to "take back their country."
On July 14, Trump offered a concession by dropping a plan to demand tolls from all ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz, indicating that US Navy vessels would escort commercial ships in exchange for investment contracts with the US. White House spokesperson Olivia Wales said Iran had broken the agreement and that while Trump always prefers diplomacy, the deal was based on compliance, and Iran's actions do not show a commitment to the terms. Trump's demand and subsequent withdrawal are characteristic of his policy's rapid shifts.
Before the naval blockade was reinstated on July 14, Iran launched a new wave of attacks against Bahrain, Jordan, and Kuwait, all of which host US military bases. A day earlier, Washington conducted a five-hour attack on Iran. Kuwait's army reported shooting down 33 drones, one ballistic missile, and one cruise missile.
The US military presence in the Middle East remains robust: two aircraft carriers, several warships, approximately 2,500 Marines, and fighter jets and long-range missiles stationed at allied bases. Since the war began in late February, about 50,000 US troops have been deployed in the region.
Private company Windward Intelligence reported on July 14 that 23 ships were spotted in the Persian Gulf that might try to breach the blockade, ten of them carrying cargo worth around $432 million. Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has been disrupted or fully halted for months, and no effective agreement has been reached. Although the US and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding in June, both sides have repeatedly accused each other of violations. Trump's announcement at the NATO summit in Ankara that the ceasefire was over put an end to the fragile peace.
