Iran War: 5 months in and an end to the conflict remains uncertain

WASHINGTON —

The war between the United States and Iran has reached its fifth month, with diplomacy still uncertain and fighting continuing despite an interim deal.

President Donald Trump told Axios on Monday that he’s not willing to give Iran much time for diplomacy, but he later suggested a more patient approach with reporters, saying, “We’ll see what happens. I think there’s a good chance that something could happen, and if it does, good. If it doesn’t, we go back to doing what we were.”

Trump also claimed that Iran had asked to meet with the U.S. to work out a treaty, but Iran has denied that any such communication has occurred.

The conflict began on Feb. 28, when the U.S. and Israel launched attacks, citing claims by the Trump administration that Iran posed an imminent threat to the United States. The administration’s stated objectives were to destroy Iran’s missile and naval arsenals and prevent the country from developing a nuclear weapon.

Efforts to end hostilities, including failed ceasefires, have not succeeded. The U.S. and Iran are currently more than halfway through a 60-day period established by an interim deal aimed at negotiating a resolution, but fighting has persisted.

Today, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is meeting face-to-face with Trump for the first time since the two began this war against Iran. Netanyahu will likely try to smooth things over with Trump as support for the conflict is slipping in the U.S.

A source tells the Associated Press that Netanyahu is planning to share with Trump Israeli intelligence on Tehran’s nuclear program.

Experts have also raised concerns about how long both sides can sustain the conflict. However, Trump suggested Monday that the U.S. has sufficient munitions to continue strikes.

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