The US and Iran are at a pivotal moment in the Iran war, which could escalate further with the addition of US ground troops and cause a worsening global economic conflict. Despite President Donald Trump's claim that the two countries are having "productive" contacts, there is no sign that either side will be able to resolve the conflict. Pakistan has led a third-party effort with Middle Eastern powers to find a way out. The war has already destroyed Iran's air forces, navy, and much of its ability to pose external threats, but has failed to eradicate the revolutionary regime. The stakes are high for both the US and Israel, and for the future of the war. The conflict has already surpassed the lower marker of the "four to six weeks" timeline initially sketched by the administration.