Even if there were to be some sort of "deal" that halted active combat operations — exceedingly unlikely either way — that would by no means "end" the ongoing military conflict with Iran. Just like the June 2025 war wasn't "the end." Rather, it was only the beginning.

Because if some "deal" were to somehow be announced, it would only be the "end" of the current phase of active warfare, which Trump inaugurated with his so-called "Midnight Hammer" operation in June 2025 — you know, the one we were told had completely obliterated Iran's nuclear capacity, neutralizing the supposed threat.

After the 1991 Gulf War ended with Saddam Hussein in power, a state of recurring warfare persisted for the next 12 years — No Fly Zones, occasional US bombing campaigns, sanctions, etc. — before finally culminating in the 2003 invasion to destroy the Iraqi state.

Trump doesn't seem interested in such an extended timeline with Iran. For as long as the "Islamic Republic" state infrastructure endures, the "job" is not going to be "finished." Which is an imperative that will also be even more overtly baked into the US security state DNA, even if Trump were to croak tomorrow.

But for as long as he's personally in power, does anyone seriously think any kind of "permanent" resolution could conceivably be obtained that does not include the megalomaniacal objectives he's already set out, consistent with his overall Second Term global conquest campaign, namely "taking" the oil, controlling the Hormuz Strait, and declaring himself Iran's ultimate governing authority, whereby he'll get to pick and choose the country's political leadership? Just like he's already done in Venezuela and Gaza?

This whole thing has always fundamentally been a long-term "regime change" policy adventure, way or another, since at least 2018 when he junked the JCPOA, but probably before.

Nothing "ends" until the fundamental "regime change" objective is either achieved, or definitively thwarted. Especially not since he opened the Pandora's Box of direct kinetic warfare in June 2025, and then blew up the box entirely in February 2026.