The Delhi High Court has stayed proceedings in a criminal defamation case filed against Sudarshan TV and its editor Suresh Chavhanke in connection with allegations that his channel made false accusations against a madrasa. The case against Chavhanke was filed by Mohammed Tufail Khan
China said on Sunday (August 23, 2026) it was postponing its planned ambitious Chang'e-7 lunar mission, which was set to carry out explorations including searching for water ice on the moon. The Chang'e-7 spacecraft was originally set to lift off in the coming days from the Wenchang Space Launch
Canada’s Carney Puts His ‘No Deal Is Better Than a Bad Deal’ Doctrine to the Test The prime minister ’s approach has broad support from the Canadian public and his political opponents, but it isn’t without risks. Published on: Aug 24, 2026, 14:05:27 IST WSJ Prefer HTon Google Share via
A group of former cricket captains, including Indian batting legend Sunil Gavaskar and one of England's longest-serving skippers Sir Alastair Cook, have called on Pakistan to ensure its ex-PM Imran Khan be given proper care while in custody. The cricketer-turned-politician has been in jail since
Fewer than 20 commodity vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz at the weekend, shipping data showed on Monday (August 24, 2026), as Iranian and U.S. blockades restrict traffic through the chokepoint for energy shipments. Four vessels crossed the strait on Sunday (August 23, 2026)
The US says it’s winning in Iran. Time to act like it
The White House appears to have rushed into war with Iran, and now faces the challenge of ending it. Despite significant airstrikes, the regime remains unbowed, paralyzing the Persian Gulf region and driving up oil prices. Declaring victory and de-escalating offers a better option than further escalation or costly ground missions.
It seems increasingly evident that the White House rushed into war with Iran without fully considering the potential consequences. That’s all the more reason to hasten the conflict’s end.
After nearly three weeks of fighting, the US is reaching the limits of what air power can accomplish. Although American and Israeli strikes have destroyed thousands of military targets and killed dozens of top officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the regime remains unbowed. Its drone and missile attacks on neighboring countries and on container ships hoping to transit the Strait of Hormuz have paralyzed the Persian Gulf region. Oil prices are surging; industries from agriculture to semiconductors fear shortages of key inputs. Inflation worries are spreading.
Also Read:
Expanding airstrikes seems more likely to increase collateral damage and turn the population against the West than to break the regime. Actually replacing the government — now said to be led by Khamenei’s equally hard-line son, Mojtaba — would require tens if not hundreds of thousands of American troops. Even narrower ground missions such as seizing the more than 440 kilograms of near-weapons-grade uranium thought to be buried under Iranian nuclear facilities, capturing the Kharg Island oil export hub, or occupying swathes of the coastline in order to protect shipping would dramatically raise the odds of another Middle East quagmire. Worryingly, a Marine expeditionary unit is reportedly now headed for the region.
The White House has a better option: Declare victory and de-escalate. It’s already laid the groundwork for such a pivot. After the president demanded “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!” and veto power over Iran’s new leaders on March 6, his administration has mostly emphasized more achievable goals: degrading Iran’s ballistic missile stockpiles, launchers and production capacity; sinking its regular navy; and setting back its nuclear program. By those criteria, the president isn’t entirely crazy to claim, “We’ve won.”
Also Read:
Critics argue the US can’t afford to leave the job half-done. Iran retains enough highly enriched uranium to make at least 10 bombs, although the state of the rest of its nuclear infrastructure is unclear. Security forces, although weakened, remain strong enough to suppress dissent. The regime could rebuild its drone arsenal at relatively low cost. Most important, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps likely retains enough anti-ship missiles, drones and sea mines to close off the strait when it chooses, effectively holding its Gulf neighbors and the global economy hostage.
Yet those risks must be weighed against the alternatives. The US and Israel are unlikely to find and hit every last mobile missile launcher, nuclear centrifuge or IRGC commander even with several more weeks of bombing. Meanwhile, the costs of continued airstrikes aren’t negligible. The Pentagon spent more than $11 billion in just the first six days of the campaign. Ships, planes, troops and air-defense batteries have been diverted from other theaters, alarming allies. The fighting is depleting supplies of hard-to-replace interceptors and long-range missiles, which are critical to deterring China.
More to the point, the threat has arguably been contained. Although Iran’s leaders will no doubt declare victory when the US ceases hostilities, the regime has been gravely wounded. It will need time and money to rebuild its military capabilities, let alone its devastated proxy network. Meanwhile, it will face abiding hostility from its neighbors and from its own citizens. Sanctions will continue to strangle Iran’s economy while its skies will remain exposed to US or Israeli strikes.
Unless the US has more high-value targets to hit that would further degrade Iran’s nuclear program, the White House should bring this campaign to a close, making sure the regime knows that conflict will resume if Iran interferes with shipping or initiates any attacks, and that any sanctions relief will have to await a credible nuclear deal. In its own Mideast misadventure, a previous US administration declared “mission accomplished” too quickly. This one would be wise not to delay too long.
Disclaimer: The views/suggestions/opinions expressed in the article do not reflect The Economic Times' official stance.
Add as a Reliable and Trusted News Source
Source: EconomicTimes
Related Posts: US Iran War,US Foreign Policy Iran,Air Strikes in Iran,Iran Conflict,Iran Nuclear Program,Iran Regime Change,Military Strategy in Iran,Oil Prices Iran War,Iran Economy Sanctions
India had asked the United States not to allow reporters to ask questions during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France in June, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said on Saturday
8 hours ago
Former Australian captain Greg Chappell with the support of 20 other former international skippers appealed to the Pakistan Government led by Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, to provide ‘humane treatment and proper medical care’ for Imran Khan
11 hours ago
The shock resignation of Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran earlier this month has left corporate India's top job vacant. But finding his successor will be no easy task for the country's most revered conglomerate, whose sprawling $300bn empire spans Jaguar Land Rover and Air India as well as
11 hours ago
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian defended a memorandum of understanding with the United States as the best way out of a stalled war. Meanwhile, the new head of the Islamic Republic's top security body warned, in a more forceful tone, of retaliation if neighbouring countries support U.S
11 hours ago
Authorities in China have launched an investigation into reports of formaldehyde being used to preserve the freshness of cabbages for human consumption. Officials in the northeastern Hebei province confirmed that they had verified footage showing individuals dipping cabbages in a solution before
11 hours ago
Three newborns died after a fire that broke out in the neonatal intensive care unit of a government hospital in Maharashtra’s Amravati district in the early hours of Monday, PTI reported. The fire broke out at the Amravati District Women’s Hospital around 3
11 hours ago
Imran's party demands immediate cardiac care for him at Shifa International Hospital Imran's party demands immediate cardiac care for him at Shifa International Hospital Published on: Aug 24, 2026, 11:10:49 IST PTI Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Islamabad
11 hours ago
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s three-day visit to New Delhi in July 2026 for the India-Japan summit appears to have elevated relations between the two Asian countries into a fresh phase of strategic expansion. Ties had already undergone a remarkable transformation over the past decade
11 hours ago
How well do COVID antivirals actually work? Not as well as we thought How well do COVID antivirals actually work? Not as well as we thought Published on: Aug 24, 2026, 11:11:50 IST PTI Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Sydeny, If you're aged over 70
11 hours ago
On Sunday, in a post on X, Wali said the audio contained "explosive evidence" and claimed that Brar admitted his gang had ordered Nijjar's killing, alleging that the assassination was driven by an inter-gang feud. Ottawa: Three years after NIA designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was killed in
14 hours ago
Until recently, there would have been little to distinguish Vietnam's so-called Justice Tree from the hundreds of others lining the streets of Hanoi. Then the bouquets started piling up. It was here that former politician Nguyen Sy Cuong was driving his BMW in May last year when he veered into the
14 hours ago
Fast-fashion giant Shein says it plans to raise up to HK13.86bn (£1.3bn; $1.77bn) when its shares start trading on the Hong Kong stock market on 1 September. In a filing on Monday, Shein said it will offer nearly 280 million shares for between HK$47.60 and HK$49.50
14 hours ago
A fast-moving, wind-driven wildfire near Reno, Nevada, has forced about 42,000 people to evacuate, while another 45,000 have been urged to prepare to leave. The Hawk Fire has burned 15,040 acres, destroyed some homes and injured six people. Officials declared a state of emergency as the blaze
14 hours ago
Former Indian diplomat Navdeep Suri has raised concerns about the verification process under the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Suri, a retired Indian Foreign Services officer, went through the process in Punjab. It is among the 16 states where the voter roll revision is being
14 hours ago
A moderate earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.9 rattled eastern Japan, including the Tokyo area, early Sunday (August 23, 2026), injuring more than 20 people, most of them slightly, officials said. There was no danger of a tsunami. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency
1 days ago
Chinese humanoid robots broke records set by humans, including beating Usain Bolt’s 100-meter sprint world record, on the opening day of the Olympics-like World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing on Saturday (August 22, 2026). More than 2,000 humanoid robots were participating in the event
1 days ago
One afternoon in 1907, a young accountant named Chandrasekhar Venkata Raman walked into the laboratory of the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science at 210 Bowbazar Street in Calcutta. Though he had a passion for the sciences, colonial India offered no stable careers in the field
1 days ago
Three first information reports were filed against 14 identified and more than 200 unidentified persons on Saturday in connection with clashes between the police and student protesters a day earlier, PTI quoted Ranchi Superintendent of Police Paras Rana as saying
1 days ago
Did an Amazon delivery guy assault a 71-year-old man in California? What we know about the attack and lawsuit A California lawsuit alleged that an Amazon delivery driver assaulted a 71-year-old man at an Elk Grove gas station. Updated on: Aug 23, 2026
1 days ago
‘Pure evil’: Videos of mothers splashing water at their kids spark outrage amid Lindsay Clancy trial Social media videos of mothers throwing water at their children have sparked concerns amid Lindsay Clancy's trial. Published on: Aug 23, 2026
1 days ago
The sister of jailed former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday (August 22, 2026) filed a petition in the Supreme Court, accusing the government and senior officials of violating the top court’s order to shift him to a private hospital for medical examination and treatment
1 days ago
The United States and Canada have entered into uncharted territory. The longtime allies and economic partners, who have enjoyed free trade for decades, are now in an escalating trade war with no clear off ramp. And for Prime Minister Mark Carney
1 days ago
Harrisburg weather update: Special Weather Statement issued for central Pennsylvania as thunderstorms bring 40mph wind NWS has issued a Special Weather Statement for Harrisburg and surrounding parts of central Pennsylvania. Published on: Aug 23, 2026
1 days ago
The police in Maharashtra’s Latur have registered a first information report against Abhijeet Dipke, the founder of the Cockroach Janta Party political campaign, for allegedly entering a government school without permission, threatening teachers and defaming the institution
1 days ago
The United States and Iran exchanged defiant messages ahead of Monday’s (August 24, 2026) scheduled announcement of new U.S. economic sanctions that could impact the Islamic Republic and Tehran’s most important trading partners including China
1 days ago
Fourteen people were killed in military air strikes at a monastery in Myanmar early on Friday, opposition fighters and a local rescue worker have said. All of those killed were elderly and a number of monks were also injured, the rescue worker told BBC Burmese, adding that the site was struck twice
1 days ago
The Armed Forces Tribunal on Thursday upheld an administrative censure for a brigadier who was commanding a sector of the Rashtriya Rifles in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district in December 2023 when three civilians died during an interrogation following a militant attack
1 days ago
