As U.S. military strikes on Iran continue, President Trump has projected the conflict could last four to five weeks, but warned it could go far longer. This uncertainty comes from conflicting statements among U.S. officials and no clear end in sight. According to the New York Times, the initial timeline could be extended depending on U.S. military capabilities and Iran’s response. With no clear resolution, the international community is left questioning what a prolonged war with Iran would entail. 

As uncertainty spreads, those affected are growing more concerned and desperate for a resolution. Civilians on the ground are bearing the heaviest burden throughout this conflict. A citizen speaking to Reuters asked, “How long will this continue? Where are the shelters? Where is the government? The whole city is empty. There is smoke and blood everywhere.” This is the reality for thousands of people caught in the middle of the conflict, searching for a cease in the violence. Innocent lives are at risk and, additionally, world leaders are indicating that the fighting could drag on longer. According to CNBC, U.S. officials hope for a swift resolution, but acknowledge the public may need to brace for an extended conflict. As Donald Trump states in the Guardian, “[the U.S. government] projected four to five weeks but we have capability to go far longer than that. We’ll do it…” This rhetoric is contributing to the distress that is spreading across many nations, and people everywhere are calling on their leaders to bring this to an end.

Without a clear answer from officials, many are skeptical and alarmed by the confidence placed in military capability rather than peaceful dialogue. According to the New York Times, it has been insisted that it “won’t be difficult” for Israel and the United States to maintain the intensity of the battle. However, maintaining the intensity of a battle is not the same as resolving one, which should be the main priority. As citizens cry out from Tehran, “World, do you see? They are killing us. Hear our voice,” it becomes impossible to ignore what is actually happening on the ground. Amid violent loss of life, the focus should not be on how long the fighting can be sustained. Instead, it should be on how quickly peace can be reached in order to end this violent crisis. Many are questioning the priorities of a U.S. administration that has shown far more urgency in mobilizing for war than in pursuing a meaningful and lasting resolution.

These current developments, when placed in a historical context, make it even clearer why peace must be the top priority. The United States and Iran have been in tension for decades, and this is not a new or simple relationship. For years, Iranian citizens have faced serious human rights violations at the hands of their own government, a deteriorating economy, and a growing loss of trust in their leadership. The pressure on outside actors to intervene has been building for some time, however the way the U.S. has chosen to intervene raises serious concern. President Trump pointed to Venezuela as a representation for how this situation could be addressed, saying, “What we did in Venezuela, I think, is the perfect, the perfect scenario,” according to the New York Times. However, Iran is not Venezuela; it is a complex nation with much contextual history regarding its regional influence and response to outside forces that must be considered. As Malcolm Rifkind, the U.K.’s former foreign and defense secretary, told CNBC, “There is no way American forces are going to be used to invade a country of the size of Iran. This is not some small country, it’s a vast country.” Treating Iran as if it were a comparable situation to past interventions is not only historically inaccurate, but has dangerous implications. For more background on the history of this conflict, visit our Crisis Index page.

The cost of the war between Iran and the U.S. is already being felt by real people and will only grow as officials continue to prioritize military action over meaningful dialogue. While world leaders debate how long the fighting can be sustained, civilians in Iran are losing their lives and crying for help. An alleged four to five week timeline means little to the people on the ground who have no certainty of when or if this suffering will end. World leaders must pursue peace with the same urgency and confidence that has been put into this war, because the people affected deserve prioritization.