The Economist Warns US Faces Costly Choices in Iran War

British weekly The Economist has warned that the United States faces a difficult choice in the Iran war, where both escalation and ending the conflict on current terms could be seen as failures.

The analysis states that Washington is approaching a critical stage, with military, political and economic risks continuing to grow and complicating decision-making.

President Donald Trump confronts two costly paths: ending the conflict before achieving key goals, or expanding military action and risking a longer, more damaging war.

The Economist notes that some governments may view a limited end to the conflict as a political retreat for the US, while others question whether recent diplomatic overtures represent a genuine push for settlement.

Shifting US deadlines and pauses in military threats indicate Washington is reassessing the costs of striking sensitive Iranian infrastructure and the potential regional fallout.

The Strait of Hormuz remains a major concern, with any prolonged disruption there threatening to deepen pressure on global oil and gas supplies and amplify economic consequences beyond the region.

Analysts warn that despite heavy attacks, Iran retains sufficient capability to disrupt shipping, energy flows and regional stability, rendering full control of the situation expensive and uncertain.

The assessment highlights a widening dilemma for Washington: accepting an imperfect outcome or risking a deeper conflict with global repercussions.