The war in our region grinds on. From the very beginning, it was clear that this conflict — like every war ever fought — leads to a dead end. As hard as it is for a state, a coalition, or an international body to decide to go to war, ending one is harder still.
That’s because war has a way of sealing off its own exits. The corridors that might lead to peace get blocked by the fighting itself. Someone has to take that first step — one of the parties directly involved, or a third-party mediator willing to wade in. But who?
Reports out of Washington suggest that President Donald Trump has floated the idea of a swift end to the war with Iran. At the same time, some of his advisers are apparently pushing him to pursue a disengagement strategy. The reason is not hard to find: oil prices are surging, and the economic fallout is severe.
It is worth remembering that US midterm elections are due in November — a fact that inevitably finds its way into the White House’s calculations. That political reality may well be behind Washington’s shift in tone. Trump has said the “short-duration” military campaign will “probably be over soon.”
And yet, as everyone recognises, the signals coming out of the United States are contradictory when it comes to the war’s duration. Which is why no one can say with any confidence what happens next — least of all how long this goes on.
Tehran, meanwhile, almost certainly wants the fighting to stop. Every day it continues costs Iran more: in lives, in infrastructure. But it is not saying so out loud.
The blunt truth is that right now, no one is backing down. Not the US. Not Israel. Not Iran. The fact that we are still here — still at war — gives the lie to those who predicted this would be over in a matter of days. That should worry everyone.
For all our sakes, there needs to be a rethink. Someone needs to start looking for the way out. There are unconfirmed reports that third parties have already offered to help — actors who appear to have lines open to all sides and who may yet move into a mediating role. That remains to be seen.
What is beyond doubt is this: humanity has had enough. The world cannot absorb another open-ended crisis that costs everyone and benefits no one.
