Why did the Iran-Israel war not stop even after Trump’s return? Know the 10 reasons that challenged the President’s Peace Through Strength policy

News India Live, Digital Desk: Donald Trump had claimed during the elections that he would stop the war within 24 hours as soon as he comes to power. But after taking oath on January 20, 2025, the situation has become even more complicated till March 14, 2026. 10 main reasons for Trump not being able to win the war. Iran’s ‘nuclear’ stubborn stance: Iran is now in the final stages of its nuclear program. Despite Trump’s pressure, Tehran feels that nuclear weapons are the only guarantee of its existence. Israel’s ‘Total Victory’ pledge: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sidelined Trump’s peace proposals by saying that Israel will not retreat until Hezbollah and Hamas are completely eliminated. Russia-China’s increasing interference: Russia and China have provided diplomatic and economic cover to Iran. Trump’s sanctions are not having that much impact, because Iran’s oil trade is now secured through Beijing. Failure of sanctions: Trump has imposed “Maximum Pressure 2.0” on Iran, but Iran has got used to living under sanctions in the last decade. Cracks in the regional alliance: Gulf countries like Saudi Arabia and UAE are now openly shying away from being a part of America’s military operations, because they fear attacks on their oil bases. Proliferation of missile technology: Iran now has hypersonic missiles that can penetrate Israel’s ‘Iron Dome’. Trump has no immediate military solution to this. America’s internal situation: The Trump administration is also facing opposition at the domestic level. The American public is against investing money in another protracted Middle-East war. The complexity of proxy wars: The war is not just between two countries. It is proving impossible for Trump to bring Yemen’s Houthis, Iraqi militias and groups active in Syria together to the table. Trump’s own uncertainty: Trump sometimes threatens to bomb Iran and sometimes offers talks. Due to this mixed signals, rivals are not taking them seriously. Strait of Hormuz: Iran has threatened to close this waterway. If Trump escalates military strikes, global oil supplies will come to a halt, causing inflation in the US to spiral out of control.