President Trump faces difficult choices in the ongoing Iran conflict. He is caught between granting Iran control of the Strait of Hormuz or escalating military actions. Further airstrikes risk political backlash before the upcoming midterm elections. Maintaining the current blockade offers no clear path to ending the war. Analysts suggest Trump may need to accept a new reality in the strait.

No matter how Trump tries to spin the war, Iran has defeated the U.S. strategically — and it’s time accept that and find the least bad way out.

US president faces few good options to exit a war he once said would end swiftly with the Islamic republic’s surrender