United States President Donald Trump signaled a potential new phase in the ongoing war with Iran, vowing a harsh response after recent escalations. The conflict, which marked its first six months last Friday, saw renewed exchanges of fire this week, sparking concerns of a return to intense military action in the Gulf region.

This development comes as the US-Iran war has already lasted half a year, a significant duration that has already impacted regional stability and international relations. The shifting strategies and rhetoric from the US administration suggest a potential for further escalation or a prolonged period of heightened tension.

On Monday, the US struck military targets on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz, which Washington stated were rocket launchers being prepared by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to deploy sea mines. Iranian media reported three fatalities from the strike. In retaliation, Iran launched missiles at two airbases in Jordan hosting US personnel and assets, which Jordan reported intercepting. Following these attacks, Trump stated, “We’re going to hit them hard… there will be a response.”

Reports from US media outlet Axios suggest Washington may be adopting a new "no war, no peace" strategy, characterized by periodic strikes against Iran without engaging in sustained, large-scale conflict. This approach aims to degrade Iran's capabilities while avoiding a full-blown war, though its sustainability and effectiveness remain subjects of debate.

The recent exchanges, the first direct attacks between the two nations in over a month, have intensified fears of a more active military phase. However, Trump downplayed the possibility of a full-scale war, asserting that the Strait of Hormuz remains secure and that Iran's military and financial systems have been significantly weakened. "That doesn’t mean we won’t smack them. We’ll see what happens," he commented.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, speaking at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, indicated that Iran would cease fire if the US reciprocated and fulfilled commitments under a previously expired interim deal. This deal, signed in June, aimed to end the war, lift sanctions, and reopen the Strait of Hormuz but ultimately faltered due to disagreements over its ambiguous wording.

The US strategy throughout the war has evolved, with initial aims reportedly focused on degrading Iran's nuclear program and deterring further aggression. However, the prolonged nature of the conflict and the tit-for-tat escalations suggest a complex and possibly unpredictable path forward for the US military and its allies in the region.

Questions remain about the long-term viability of a strategy involving intermittent strikes, the potential for miscalculation leading to wider conflict, and the ultimate objectives of the US in this protracted engagement. The economic impact on Iran, with US Treasury warnings of potential collapse, also looms large as a factor in the evolving dynamics of the war.