The War Trump Can’t Control
The Atlantic examines the escalating military conflict between the U.S. and Iran, questioning whether the situation is devolving into a permanent 'forever war.' Despite presidential rhetoric regarding a quick resolution, military strikes and regional instability continue to intensify.
Why it matters
The ongoing conflict threatens global energy security and regional stability in the Middle East, challenging U.S. foreign policy goals.
President Trump has consistently said the war in Iran will be over “quickly.” Is it becoming one America can’t exit?
Fatemeh Bahrami / Anadolu / Getty July 13, 2026, 8:40 AM ET Share Save Listen − 1.0 x + Seek 0:00 21:45 Subscribe here: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Overcast | Pocket Casts
Following the U.S.’s war with Iran can give you whiplash. One day, it’s nearing a resolution; the next, the nations have resumed missile strikes on each other’s military installations, and Iran on Gulf States caught in the destructive web of this conflict. By the time President Trump declared, on Friday, that a cease-fire with Iran was over, the United States had already hit more than 140 targets in the preceding days—his words did not make policy; they were simply an articulation of reality.
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