Trump may be unable to end the war he started with Iran, even if he wanted to

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🗞️ Driving the news: An escalating U.S.–Iran conflict may be harder to end than anticipated, analysts warn, as President Donald Trump faces mounting difficulty turning military strikes into a decisive political outcome
• Despite declaring victory early in the campaign, the conflict has evolved into an endurance struggle rather than a quick operation

🔭 The context: The war began with U.S. and Israeli strikes targeting Iranian leadership and military infrastructure, including the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei
• However, Iranian hardliners quickly consolidated power around his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, while the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) continues retaliatory attacks and disruption across the region.

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The conflict is already disrupting global energy systems, including attacks on oil infrastructure and instability around the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of global oil supply flows
• Prolonged instability risks higher fossil-fuel prices, increased emissions from disrupted shipping routes, and greater pressure on governments to revert to fossil fuels during the crisis

⏭️ What’s next: Analysts suggest the conflict may gradually wind down through diplomacy or exhaustion rather than a decisive military victory
• However, Iran could rebuild with support from allies such as Russia and China, potentially leading to ongoing regional tensions and periodic energy market disruptions

💬 One quote: “The path to victory — or at least not defeat — is suddenly very clear… it just has to survive.” — Nick Paton Walsh, CNN analysis

📈 One stat: Roughly 20% of global oil supply passes through the Strait of Hormuz, making the conflict a major risk to global energy markets

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