Middle East expert Peeter Raudsik discusses the war between Israel and the US against Iran that began a week ago, indicating that Israel has been the more active party. Despite initial impressions that the conflict might aim for regime change in Iran, it appears that the current strategy focuses more on maximizing Iran's weakening. Raudsik points to the complexities involved in the conflict and the challenges faced by US President Donald Trump in justifying the war as it drags on. Helga Kalm, deputy director of the Center for Defense Studies, highlights that while Trump set forth several goals at the start of the war, such as destroying Iran's naval capabilities and its nuclear capacity, measuring the fulfillment of these goals remains challenging. At the beginning of the conflict, four objectives were articulated by Trump, which include attacks on Iran's missile stockpile and its allied networks capable of threatening the US or its allies. Although some progress has been made towards these goals, quantifying success in achieving them is difficult, as noted by Kalm. The implication of this ongoing conflict raises questions about the US's long-term strategy in the region and the potential impact on international relations, particularly how prolonged engagement could influence local and global perceptions of US foreign policy. The longer the war continues, the more complex the internal and external dynamics become, requiring careful navigation by the US and its allies in their next steps toward resolution.