The war against Iran is turning into a war of attrition. Where will the parties stop?

US President Donald Trump has announced that the United States can stop military attacks on Iran that have been going on for five weeks in two to three weeks. According to the US president, concluding a deal with Tehran is not a prerequisite for ending the conflict.

“We will be leaving very soon,” President Trump told reporters at the White House, adding that the withdrawal could take place “in maybe two, maybe three weeks.”

Asked if reaching a diplomatic deal with Iran was a prerequisite to ending what the US called Operation “Epic Rage,” Trump said no.

“Iran is not obliged to sign a deal, no,” said Trump.

“No, they don’t have to make a deal with me.” Pete Hegsett, head of the Pentagon, has also announced that the coming days will be decisive for Iran.

“The United States will continue to attack Iran if Tehran does not make a deal with us,” said the United States Secretary of War, asserting that “if it is reasonable, Iran will go to sign an agreement.” Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian also stated that his country has the “necessary will” to end the war with the US and Israel, depending on the conditions.

“We have the necessary will to stop this conflict, if the important conditions, especially the guarantees of the exclusion of the repetition of aggression, are provided,” Pezeshkian said during a telephone conversation with the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa.

And despite Washington announcing the imminent end of the war, US-Israeli forces have continued to strike “underground military targets deep inside Iran.” Israel claimed that it attacked a factory involved in the production of chemical weapons. Iran claims that it was producing medicine. According to the Iranian ISNA agency, at least 10 medical workers were killed.

Iran, in turn, hit Israel, and more than 25 people were injured. They also continued to attack the Persian Gulf countries. A tanker was hit near the coast of Qatar, there were no casualties. Kuwait says an Iranian attack caused a “big fire” at its airport fuel depot. The Iranian-backed Houthis, who have been active in recent days, have announced that they have hit southern Israel with missiles and promised to intensify the strikes in the future.

168.amin a conversation with Russian analyst Vladimir Yevseyev stated that despite the difficult situation created for the US in the Middle East, the US is trying to impose its preconditions on Iran in any case.

According to him, the current proposals to Iran, which the American side considers as a basis for negotiations, have nothing to do with negotiation, a balanced solution, because they simply imply unilateral concessions and acceptance of the presented conditions.

“Iran clearly does not want to accept them, the war is prolonged, and all the calculations of the United States are messed up. Due to this, the statements of the US President and his staff representatives are becoming more controversial. First they talk about constructive negotiations when there are none, then they present ultimatums, then they talk about conducting a ground operation, capturing islands, opening the strait. And in fact, the Trump administration obviously wants to end this war, because it has already caused quite a lot of damage, but it just doesn’t stop the war. So, I think, still several scenarios are being considered, none of which, I think, will give the expected result,” the analyst said.

According to him, another negative development for the United States is that the United States does not receive the support of its Western allies and partners in this war.

“This is the reason why the US president and the secretary of state started a new wave of protest against NATO, stating that the US is considering withdrawing from NATO. In fact, this is a statement aimed at NATO partners who did not show the support Trump expected for the US. Moreover, there were countries that criticized some phenomena and episodes, in Europe they were unhappy that starting this war was not discussed with the US’s European allies, in the event that they are also suffering the consequences of this war. Therefore, a difficult situation has been created, neither the outcome of the war, nor the strategy of victory, nor the strategy of getting out of it is outlined, turning the situation into a dying war. It is not yet possible to say where the parties will stop,” Yevseyev said.

He believes that as long as the war continues, it has the risk of expanding into neighboring regions. According to Yevseyev, there are countries that are interested in it.

“However, the Islamic Republic of Iran continues to target American bases in the Persian Gulf countries, obviously wanting to maintain its good relations with the South Caucasus countries, although not everything is smooth for Iran here, as the United States closely cooperates with Armenia and Azerbaijan, and Israel has partner political and military relations with Azerbaijan. Here, Iran has made many statements to manage the risks, I think there is also appropriate political work, contacts, so that the situation does not become uncontrollable,” Yevseev expressed this opinion.

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