Trump used to say he saw a quick end to his Iran war, but 6 months later he claims he’s in no hurry

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump arrives at an awkward moment for his presidency on Friday as the U.S.-Israel war against Iran reaches the six-month mark, a notable milestone for a conflict that the Republican leader repeatedly assured Americans would be a.

What happened

Though Trump claims that through bombs and blockade, he has already devastated Iran's leadership, military and economy, the war isn't over.

And this week his administration remarked it would turn its focus to increasing economic pressure – rather than military action – to try to finish off Iran. The shifting strategy centers on threats to punish any country or entity that continues to conduct business with Tehran.

For context, the turn to using sanctions as the cudgel of choice comes as the administration weighs diminished munitions stockpiles after months of war, sparking reservations that the prolonged conflict could undermine U.S. Military readiness in other parts of the globe.

The bottom line

For now, trump used to say he saw a quick end to his Iran remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.