Iran war reaches six months as diplomacy stalls

Six months after the United States and Israel went to war with Iran, the conflict has settled into a grinding standoff: Tehran’s leadership remains in power, the Strait of Hormuz remains heavily disrupted and Washington is escalating economic pressure while talks remain stalled.

President Trump insisted Thursday that Iran is “begging to make a deal,” while Iranian officials said diplomacy is still possible only if Washington abandons its pressure campaign. Trump initially said the war would last six weeks, CBS News reported, but now says it will take “as long as necessary.”

“Putting diplomacy back on track isn’t impossible. It hinges on U.S. understanding of one simple fact: pressure doesn’t work,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on X on Friday. “The U.S. should build trust, speak respectfully, acknowledge our rights, and uphold commitments.”

Diplomatic efforts led by mediators including Pakistan and Qatar have failed to end the war, which began in late February. Araghchi met his Qatari counterpart Thursday in Tehran to discuss the Strait of Hormuz, following a week of Iranian talks with Oman and Pakistan.

NPR reported that the U.S. and Israel intensively bombed Iran from Feb. 28 until a ceasefire was declared April 8, killing dozens of senior Iranian leaders on the first day, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. NPR reported that the five-week assault severely damaged Iran’s air force, air defenses, navy, missile and drone programs, though Iran has retained the ability to strike back in limited exchanges.

The war has killed 3,375 Iranians and injured more than 33,000, according to the World Health Organization, NPR reported. The Pentagon says 18 U.S. service members have been killed and hundreds injured, according to NPR. Israel and Gulf countries have recorded dozens of deaths.

The Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for global oil and gas shipments, remains central to the conflict. U.S. Central Command chief Adm. Brad Cooper has said the strait is clear of sea mines and is “open, and momentum is building,” CBS News reported. But some U.S. allies reportedly doubt that assessment, and Iran’s threat to commercial vessels has kept transits at a fraction of prewar levels.

NPR reported that Iran and Oman are negotiating a temporary reopening arrangement, but the Trump administration has rejected any deal that recognizes Iranian control or allows tolls on the international waterway.

Washington is also expanding financial measures against Tehran. A U.S. official confirmed Friday that the Treasury Department plans to cut off the United Arab Emirates branches of Banque Misr, Egypt’s second-largest bank, from the U.S. financial system. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the action is part of an effort to sever Iran’s remaining economic lifelines.

“We also warned that Iran’s enablers cannot continue to enjoy access to the U.S. dollar and the global financial system,” Bessent said. “Banque Misr UAE decided to find out the hard way.”

The U.S. also announced sanctions against Reza Mohammad Taeedi, manager of Iranian Bank Melli’s Dubai branch, and Kameng Trading Limited, a Hong Kong-based company Treasury accused of laundering funds for a sanctioned Iranian exchange house.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry called the latest sanctions “economic terrorism” and said they violate the U.N. Charter. Asked Thursday whether the U.S. would sanction Chinese banks that cooperate with Iran, Trump replied, “Who said I’m not?” and added that he did not “have to announce everything.”

Sen. Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, said Trump had failed to meet his goals. “Six months later, not a single objective has been achieved,” Reed said. “Congress has seen no framework for ending the war, and Trump has failed to provide a definition of victory.”