Notwithstanding US President Donald Trump’s reported claim that he wished to avoid a prolonged conflict in Iran and is now considering “winding down the war,” the reality on the ground tells a starkly different story. Nearly a month after Israel and the United States — the world’s most formidable military powers — launched massive airstrikes against Iran aimed at dismantling Tehran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes and even fomenting regime change, there remains little sign of an early end to the war. It is rapidly sliding into a protracted crisis, one that continues to send shockwaves through the global economy. What may be underlined, however, is that while Iran appears to be fighting a battle for survival, the US increasingly seems to be searching for an honourable exit from this deepening strategic quagmire. Instead, they have rallied the Iranian people more firmly than ever behind the regime, muting dissent and transforming internal discontent into a collective stand against external aggression.

Source: Indian Express March 28, 2026 09:55 UTC