US-Iran Status Quo Is Unsustainable

The current "no war, no peace" situation in the US-Iran conflict is unsustainable. The immediate fear of a new US-Israeli strike on Iran and a bigger regional war may have passed. This is mainly because the Republicans lost in the American midterm elections. But the Gulf will not return to normal unless there is stable long-term peace.

President Donald Trump keeps changing his position. He sometimes says more attacks are not needed, but then issues new threats. After speaking with the Qatari prime minister, Trump said the US would keep the "status quo" with Iran. At the same time, his secretary of state said economic pressure on Tehran will continue. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has criticized America's "diplomacy through threats".

The fact is that the US and Israel have not been able to defeat Iran on the battlefield. Economic sanctions are hurting Iranians, but there are few signs that this pressure will make them give in to America. Tehran believes that if Iran is made to suffer economic pain, the whole region and the wider world will feel it too. The eight-month blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has shown this.

Iran has said its seven-point proposal is on the table if the US wants to consider it. However, the US has called these conditions "absurd".

Washington Should Seek a Negotiated Settlement

The US status quo is unlikely to last. It may make matters worse. This is why Washington should focus on a negotiated settlement. American academic John Mearsheimer said at the Margalla Dialogue in Islamabad on Tuesday, "there is no way the US can defeat Iran". For peace in the region and global economic stability, the status quo must end and be replaced by sustainable peace.

The US cannot hold the world hostage to find an honourable exit from a disastrous war. Only the US and Israel are to blame for this war. Iran's demands may seem extreme right now. But if Tehran is treated with respect and given guarantees of no more attacks, it may soften its position.

American voters showed their displeasure with Mr Trump's war in the midterm elections. Instead of dragging this matter on, he should find ways to end it quickly.

Israel is unhappy about any end to hostilities. According to Israeli media, Mr Trump and the Zionist state's prime minister had a tense phone call about this recently. The US leader should remember that questionable Israeli advice got him into this situation. He would be better off ignoring pressure from Tel Aviv and working with regional states to find a way to permanently end hostilities with Iran.

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2026