As the war involving the United States, Israel and Iran enters its twelfth day, the question increasingly being asked in diplomatic and military circles is not just how the war will unfold — but how it might end. US President Donald Trump has publicly suggested that the conflict could conclude soon. Speaking recently, Trump said he believes he “will end this war," signalling confidence that American military pressure will force Iran to back down.Click here for Live updates on the US-Israel-Iran war.
Tehran, however, has rejected that framing. Iranian officials responded sharply, saying Iran — not Washington — will determine when the war ends, highlighting the widening gap between the two sides’ expectations.
With military strikes continuing and tensions spreading across the region, analysts are examining several possible endgames for the conflict. A recent analysis by Axios outlined multiple scenarios for how the war could conclude, noting that “the end of the war will ultimately depend on what the US defines as victory."
One possibility, as per the Axios report, is that both sides eventually seek a diplomatic exit after sustaining significant losses.
In this scenario, neither side fully achieves its objectives but declares partial victory. International mediators — potentially Gulf states or European powers — could broker a ceasefire once the economic and military costs of the war become too high.
This type of outcome has precedent in Middle East conflicts, where prolonged fighting eventually pushes adversaries towards reluctant negotiations.
However, the deep mistrust between Washington and Tehran makes this scenario difficult in the short term.
Another scenario is that the United States declares victory after achieving a narrow set of military objectives. According to the Axios report, some officials in Washington view the destruction of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and long-range missile capabilities as the core goal of the campaign.
If those capabilities are neutralised, the United States could end major combat operations while arguing that it has eliminated the main strategic threat.
The challenge with this outcome is that Iran could attempt to rebuild those capabilities over time, potentially setting the stage for future confrontation.
Source: World News in news18.com, World Latest News, World News
