WASHINGTON (AP) — When President Donald Trump initiated military action against Iran in late February, he anticipated the conflict would last four to five weeks. Six months later, there is no clear resolution despite Trump's claims that the war has been won or that a deal is imminent. A memorandum of understanding from June aimed to facilitate an end to the war but has not progressed. U.S. military stockpiles of critical weapons have decreased, leading the administration to focus on economic pressure against Iran instead of further military strikes.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated on "Fox & Friends" that no negotiations are currently taking place and will not resume until the president believes Iran is ready to engage meaningfully.
As the conflict has evolved, so have the U.S. objectives, with a new focus on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping route for approximately 20% of the world's oil. The strait has been largely inaccessible since the conflict began, contributing to increased prices for fuel and fertilizer in the U.S.
The U.S. has achieved some tactical successes in diminishing Iran's military capabilities, but many of the initial goals set by Trump remain unmet or have changed. In June 2025, Trump claimed that the U.S. had "obliterated" Iran's nuclear program, although initial justifications for military action included warnings that Iran was close to developing a nuclear weapon.
A significant concern is the stockpile of about 970 pounds (440 kilograms) of enriched uranium that Iran could potentially use for weaponization. This material is believed to be located at three sites that were bombed by the U.S. and Israel last year. Trump stated in a social media post that the U.S. would retrieve this uranium in coordination with Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Iran has not confirmed whether it would allow this retrieval. Experts have indicated that seizing the uranium without Iran's consent would require a substantial deployment of U.S. troops.
The June memorandum reaffirmed Iran's commitment not to develop nuclear weapons and included provisions for diluting its stockpile of highly enriched uranium. However, many details about Iran's nuclear program were left for future negotiations, and progress on these discussions has been unclear.
Trump has suggested that any deal with Iran would involve reopening the Strait of Hormuz and lifting the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports, though he has also indicated that the strait could become U.S. territory with potential tolls for passing ships.
In a recent interview, Trump claimed the strait is operational, despite occasional attacks. He stated, "It's a functioning strait. Yes, every once in a while, there'll be a drone or a rocket or something shot, but it is a very functioning strait."
One of the administration's stated goals was to dismantle Iran's missile capabilities. Trump initially claimed that Iran's missiles were "mostly decimated," but later revised this estimate to indicate that 82% of their missiles were destroyed. Iran has continued to demonstrate its ability to launch attacks in the region, including drone strikes on vessels in the strait.
As of July, U.S. military operations still targeted Iranian military assets, with Central Command reporting strikes on various Iranian military sites.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio informed lawmakers that Iran has experienced significant damage to its defense capabilities, estimating an 80 to 90% attrition rate that would take years to rebuild.
The U.S. and Israel have established air superiority over Iran, with Rubio noting that while Iran retains drone capabilities, it lacks the capacity for coordinated drone attacks.
Trump has also emphasized the importance of protecting U.S. allies in the Middle East, including Israel and several Gulf states. While thousands of U.S. troops are stationed in the region, Trump's long-term strategy for protecting these allies remains unclear. Following missile attacks from Iran towards Kuwait and Bahrain, the U.S. conducted retaliatory strikes.
Oman, however, has faced criticism from Trump due to its negotiations with Iran regarding the Strait of Hormuz. In August, Trump threatened military action against Oman if it interfered with U.S. interests.
Initially, degrading Iran's proxy networks was a key objective for the U.S. administration, but updates on this goal have become less frequent. The U.S. has targeted Iranian-aligned militia groups in Iraq, but the focus has shifted to Israel's conflict with Hezbollah, which Iran supports. Iran has insisted that any deal with the U.S. must include a cessation of hostilities in Lebanon. A recent agreement mediated by the U.S. aimed to facilitate Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon in exchange for Hezbollah's disarmament, but the group has refused to engage in direct negotiations.
Associated Press writer Konstantin Toropin contributed to this report.