Defense Priorities Defense Priorities
  • Policy Topics
    • US-Israel-Iran
    • Ukraine-Russia
    • Western Hemisphere
    • NATO
    • China
  • Analysis
    • Policy Papers
    • Symposia
    • Q&A
    • Polls
    • Grand Strategy Explained
    • Target Taiwan
  • Programs
    • Grand Strategy Program
    • Military Analysis Program
    • Asia Program
    • Middle East Program
  • Experts
  • Events
  • Media
  • About
    • Mission & Vision
    • People
    • Jobs
    • Contact
  • Donate
Select Page
Home / US-Israel-Iran / Trump retreat over Hormuz tolls suggests he is struggling to end Iran war
US‑Israel‑Iran, Iran, Middle East

July 14, 2026

Trump retreat over Hormuz tolls suggests he is struggling to end Iran war

“I think the most likely ending is a non-ending,” Rosemary Kelanic, Director of the Middle East programme at Defense Priorities, said. “This has turned into a war of attrition, and wars of attrition tend to go on for a long, long period of time.”

“The MOU is completely dead,” said Kelanic. “All of the things that it stipulated have now been undone.”

Now, according to Kelanic, the president’s leverage over Iran may be diminished.

“He has already tried the things he can easily do, can credibly do,” she said. “He can attack military targets, regime targets. He’s done that before, and it didn’t cause Iran to surrender.”

Read at BBC

Featuring

Rosemary
Kelanic

Director, Middle East Program

Defense Priorities

More on Middle East

Op-edUS‑Israel‑Iran, Iran, Middle East

Let Iran Control the Strait of Hormuz

By Rosemary Kelanic

August 24, 2026

Op-edIsrael, Middle East

Pitch for defense treaty and moving U.S. military to Israel is insane

By Jennifer Kavanagh

August 24, 2026

Op-edUS‑Israel‑Iran, Iran, Middle East

Trump’s Iran Economic D-Day is delusional

By Daniel DePetris

August 21, 2026

Op-edMiddle East

Saudi Arabia’s New Maritime Coalition Is a Warning for the U.S.

By Alexander Langlois

August 21, 2026

Op-edMiddle East

It’s Time to Pull U.S. Troops from the Middle East

By Alexander Langlois

August 19, 2026

In the mediaUS‑Israel‑Iran, Basing and force posture, Iran, Middle East, Military analysis

Pentagon weighing smaller U.S. military presence in Gulf once Iran war ends

Featuring Jennifer Kavanagh and Dan Caldwell

August 18, 2026

Receive expert foreign policy analysis

Join the hub of realism and restraint

Expert updates and analysis to enhance your understanding of vital U.S. national security issues

Defense Priority Mono Logo

Our mission is to inform citizens, thought leaders, and policymakers of the importance of a strong, dynamic military—used more judiciously to protect America’s narrowly defined national interests—and promote a realistic grand strategy prioritizing restraint, diplomacy, and free trade to ensure U.S. security.

  • Experts
  • Papers
  • Symposia
  • Q&A
  • Polls
  • Events
  • Media
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • About
  • Jobs
  • Contact
  • Donate
© 2026 Defense Priorities Foundation. All rights reserved.