Six months after the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran, the conflict has turned into a costly stalemate with no clear end in sight.
Iran has refused to surrender, shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains heavily disrupted, and the war is creating serious political, economic and military consequences for the United States, Iran and the wider world.
Here are six major consequences:
1. Trump is facing political pressure
The war has become increasingly unpopular among Americans. According to Reuters/Ipsos polling, President Donald Trump’s approval rating has fallen from 40% to 33% since the conflict began.
Only 31% of Americans surveyed approve of the war. Rising fuel prices have also weakened Trump’s campaign promise to reduce living costs.
The issue could create problems for Republicans ahead of the November midterm elections, while divisions have emerged within the party over whether the military campaign should continue.
2. The global economy has been affected
The conflict disrupted the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping route through which about one-fifth of the world’s energy supplies pass.
Oil prices rose sharply, raising fears of a global economic downturn. The International Monetary Fund has since lowered its global growth forecast to 3% for this year, compared with 3.3% projected in January.
However, the global economy has proved more resilient than during the oil shocks of the 1970s, partly because major economies are now less dependent on energy and strong investment, including in artificial intelligence, has helped cushion the impact.
3. Iran is badly damaged but remains capable of fighting
Iran’s military and economy have suffered significant damage, but the country still possesses drones and missiles and has continued attacking shipping and U.S. military facilities in the region.
A senior U.S. commander previously told Congress that American forces had destroyed 161 Iranian naval vessels and disabled 82% of Iran’s air-defence systems.
The war has killed thousands of people and worsened Iran’s economic crisis. Food inflation reached 128% year-on-year in July, according to Iran’s Statistical Center.
4. The Middle East has become more unstable
Rather than eliminating Iran as a regional threat, the war has contributed to greater instability, according to analysts.
Iranian missile and drone attacks have targeted U.S.-allied Gulf countries, damaging military and diplomatic facilities and disrupting air travel.
Attacks on shipping, combined with Houthi attacks targeting Saudi-linked traffic in the Red Sea, have also increased transportation and insurance costs and disrupted regional supply chains.
5. Iran’s nuclear programme may have been delayed
U.S. and Israeli strikes have severely damaged several Iranian nuclear and enrichment facilities, while Israeli attacks have killed senior nuclear scientists.
U.S. intelligence estimates suggest Iran’s nuclear “breakout time” — the period required to produce enough fissile material for a nuclear weapon — could now be as long as one year, compared with around six months before the war.
However, the actual condition of Iran’s nuclear programme remains uncertain because international inspectors have not returned to the affected sites. The International Atomic Energy Agency has also been unable to verify the location of about 440 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60%.
6. U.S. military readiness has been weakened
The conflict has placed significant pressure on U.S. military resources. American forces have lost drones and aircraft through Iranian attacks and accidents.
A Congressional Research Service report said 42 U.S. military aircraft had been lost in the conflict.
The United States has also used large quantities of precision missiles and air-defence interceptors. Military forces and equipment have been moved from Europe and the Asia-Pacific to the Middle East, raising concerns about U.S. readiness in other regions.
Overall, after six months, the war has failed to produce a decisive victory for either side and has created lasting political, economic and military challenges.
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