Trump used to say he saw a quick end to his Iran war, but 6 months later he claims he’s in no hurry

The Associated Press reports that the U.S.-Israel war with Iran has now reached the six-month mark, despite President Donald Trump’s early assurances that the conflict would be a short “little excursion.” Although Trump argues that Iran’s military, political leadership, and economy have been severely damaged, the war remains unresolved and the administration is shifting toward economic warfare and sanctions rather than sustained military strikes.

The conflict has reportedly cost the United States more than $37.5 billion, while months of fighting have also raised concerns about depleted U.S. munitions and America’s ability to respond to crises elsewhere. Trump nevertheless maintains that Iran is close to collapse, saying its government is struggling to pay troops and has little remaining military capacity.

The article highlights the political awkwardness of Trump declaring success. He recently shared an AI-generated image proclaiming “MISSION ACCOMPLISHED 2026,” recalling President George W. Bush’s infamous 2003 “Mission Accomplished” appearance during the Iraq War. Trump had campaigned as an opponent of prolonged Middle Eastern wars, making the continuing Iran conflict especially significant politically.

Iran has suffered enormous damage. Its leadership structure, navy and air force have been badly hit, and Iranian officials estimate roughly $270 billion in direct and indirect economic losses. Former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in an Israeli strike early in the war.

However, Iran retains an important source of leverage: the Strait of Hormuz. Trump says the strait is open, but AP notes that only about 24 ships passed through recently compared with roughly 130 per day before the war. Reduced traffic through the strait continues to threaten global oil and liquefied-natural-gas supplies.

Diplomatic efforts remain uncertain. Qatar, Pakistan and Oman have attempted to broker an agreement, but Trump has recently said he is “not in a hurry” to negotiate and appears more interested in increasing economic pressure.

The administration has therefore announced “Operation Economic Outcast,” which threatens countries and companies that continue trading with Iran. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has warned Iran’s trading partners but has not yet imposed sweeping secondary sanctions. One major challenge is China, Iran’s largest trading partner and oil customer, which has rejected U.S. unilateral sanctions.

The article presents two competing assessments of what happens next. Some advocates of tougher policy argue that combining the naval blockade with aggressive sanctions against Iran’s trading partners could finally isolate Tehran economically. Others caution that Iran has spent decades learning how to survive sanctions through discounted oil sales, informal financial networks and covert shipping arrangements.

The central takeaway: after six months, the United States and Israel have inflicted extraordinary damage on Iran, but they have not produced a clear political settlement or end to the war. Trump is increasingly describing the military phase as successful while shifting toward economic pressure, even though Iran retains leverage through Hormuz and has historically demonstrated an ability to survive intense sanctions.