Iran war enters its fourth week with no clear end in sight
Why it matters: This conflict's fourth week brings shifting U.S. strategy, oil market disruption, and escalating regional threats.
- President Trump is considering "winding down" military efforts in the Middle East, even as Israel continues strikes in Tehran.
- The U.S. Department of Defense reports a 90% reduction in Iranian missile and drone attacks, with U.S. forces now using Apache helicopters and A-10 Warthogs to target Iranian boats.
- The Trump administration is temporarily lifting sanctions on some Iranian oil, a move expected to add 140 million barrels to the global market, according to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
- Britain confirmed an unsuccessful Iranian missile strike on the joint U.S.-U.K. airbase Diego Garcia, indicating Iran's missile capabilities extend further than previously believed.
- The International Maritime Organization notes over 3,000 vessels are stranded in the Persian Gulf due to the near-total halt of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
As the Iran war enters its fourth week, the U.S. and Israel claim air superiority with Iranian attacks significantly reduced, prompting the Trump administration to consider winding down military efforts and temporarily lifting sanctions on Iranian oil to stabilize global markets. However, a recent unsuccessful Iranian missile strike on a joint U.S.-U.K. base in the Indian Ocean suggests Iran's capabilities may be underestimated, raising concerns about broader regional threats and the ongoing halt of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
