Uncertainty grows as US-Iran conflict continues

Over a week after the United States and Israel launched air strikes against Iran, military operations under the name Operation Epic Fury remain ongoing. President Donald Trump has provided conflicting reports, stating both that the war is nearly complete and that the US will not withdraw until total victory is achieved. The Pentagon has outlined four tactical objectives: preventing Iranian nuclear weapon development, destroying ballistic missile capabilities, and curbing support for groups like Hezbollah. US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced plans for intensified attacks, yet officials have not presented a clear exit strategy to Congress. Before hostilities began, three rounds of indirect talks in Geneva failed to reach a nuclear agreement. Tensions remain high as the uncertainty surrounding the war's end impacts US domestic markets and political standing ahead of the November midterm elections.