President Trump has signaled a desire to step back from the conflict with Iran, but his approach remains muddled as Washington balances threats and talks.
In a dramatic 48-hour stretch this week, the Pentagon ordered more than 1,000 paratroopers toward Iran while US negotiators sent Tehran a new 15-point peace proposal.
The White House publicly urged acceptance even as it warned of tougher action if Iran refused.
Iran swiftly dismissed the proposal and denied it was negotiating with the United States.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Tehran would not reopen the Strait of Hormuz to Western warships and insisted any ceasefire would occur on Iran’s own terms.
The leaked peace plan reportedly demanded that Iran halt its nuclear activities, curb ballistic missile capabilities and allow freedom of passage through the strait.
The effort is being led by US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, but analysts warned the terms looked unrealistic to Tehran.
Strategically, the biggest hurdle is the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil and gas.
Iranian attacks on commercial vessels have continued, driving energy prices higher and exposing gaps in Washington’s plan to protect shipping.
Inside Washington, unease is growing.
Former administration officials and allies say there is no clear, long-term blueprint for how the United States intends to end the conflict.
Speaker Mike Johnson voiced optimism that military operations are winding down, while some Republicans publicly criticized the new troop orders.
Representative Nancy Mace said she would not support deploying ground forces to Iran after a confidential Pentagon briefing, highlighting a rift between anti-interventionist conservatives and hawkish lawmakers.
House leaders have also complained that defence officials are not sharing enough detail.
Military analysts suggest the deployed paratroopers could be used to seize key facilities such as Kharg Island to help reopen the strait, which would give the US leverage but also increase exposure to attacks.
Others argue a small, rapid deployment is unlikely to guarantee control of the waterway.
Critics describe the current policy as improvised rather than carefully planned, pointing to last-minute shifts between threats of escalation and offers of negotiated settlements.
For now, both sides appear to be trying to shape the next steps, leaving the conflict’s end uncertain and the global economic fallout unresolved.
