Could the US-Iran war become a protracted ‘frozen’ conflict?
Key takeaways
- In the absence of a permanent deal, the war between the US and Iran is becoming one of attrition despite huge economic costs.
- All military options remain on the table, despite a ceasefire in force since April 8 having paused the conflict.
- The US president has envisioned the possibility of suspending a military campaign against Tehran while reserving the option of carrying out targeted strikes as needed.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
In the absence of a permanent deal, the war between the US and Iran is becoming one of attrition despite huge economic costs.
xwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogle Add Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Iranians drive by picture of the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran, Iran, as the US and Iran remain in deadlocked in a ceasefire that temporarily suspended the conflict [Abedin Taherkenareh/EPA]By Federica Marsi Published On 30 Apr 202630 Apr 2026Two months since the US and Israel launched a joint surprise attack on Iran, negotiations appear deadlocked, as competing blockades of the Strait of Hormuz continue to disrupt global energy supplies, and the future of Iran’s nuclear programme remains unresolved.
In a sign of the continuing standoff, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly on Tuesday said the US was still engaging with Iran on negotiations but would “not be rushed into making a bad deal”, a day after US President Donald Trump and his top security advisers discussed a new Iranian proposal on resolving the war.