Are Iran and the US fighting a war neither side can win?

NEWS SUMMARY

Following a US-Iran memorandum of understanding that granted Tehran authority over safe passage in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran designated a commercial shipping corridor within its territorial waters, which the US challenged by promoting a southern route. This dispute has escalated into a war of attrition over control of the vital chokepoint, with Iran now facing risks of hyperinflation, mass unemployment, and critical infrastructure devastation.

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Submitted by Shahir Shahidsaless on Thu, 07/23/2026 - 15:43 Both Tehran and Washington might think time is on their side, but the mounting costs could push them back to the negotiating table Signs protesting the Iran war and its impacts on gas prices are seen during a protest outside the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on 20 May 2026 (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images/AFP) On The escalating war between the United States and Iran is no longer about Tehran’s nuclear programme, nor even about regime change,

Are Iran and the US fighting a war neither side can win?

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CONFLICT OVERVIEW

Iran

Latest verified updates on Iran’s regional confrontation, U.S.–Israeli strikes, missile retaliation, proxy networks, sanctions, and Strait of Hormuz risks.

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