The US and Iran's conflict has reached a critical juncture, with the president's initial predictions of a brief war having been thoroughly discredited by the prolonged and intense fighting.
The current ceasefire, while a temporary reprieve from the violence, has failed to yield a lasting resolution, as the US and Iran continue to engage in a cycle of fire and counter-fire, raising concerns about the stability of the region and the prospects for a lasting peace.
The president's assertions of being on the cusp of a deal with Iran have been repeatedly undermined by the whiplash-inducing starts and stops in the negotiations, leaving many to question the sincerity of his claims and the feasibility of a successful outcome.
