With Trump in a holding pattern on Iran war, allies and critics worry he risks getting boxed in

Key Points:

• President Trump faces increasing pressure from allies, advisers, and opponents as the Iran conflict remains unresolved, shifting from a brief military action to a prolonged stalemate despite a tentative 60-day ceasefire extension.
• Trump demands changes to the ceasefire agreement while Iranian officials remain firm, and recent U.S. and Iranian strikes have raised concerns about the ceasefire's stability, though Trump downplays the violence as typical for the region.
• U.S. officials and Gulf allies warn against resuming bombing due to depleted munitions and risks of Iranian retaliation, while Trump resists a deal resembling the 2015 nuclear agreement, wary of damaging his legacy with a "bad deal."
• Israeli and hawkish U.S. allies push for stronger action against Iran and Hezbollah, but Trump has resisted escalation, even demanding Israel stand down during recent tensions with Lebanon, resulting in a renewed ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon.
• Democrats are leveraging dissatisfaction with Trump's handling of the war ahead of midterm elections, highlighting economic impacts and the ongoing stalemate, while some Republicans express concern that the prolonged conflict could hurt their electoral prospects.