USA and Iran at War: Trump Hesitates, Israel Plans for the Next Three Weeks – and Germany Remains on the Sidelines

It's March 19, 2026, and the war in the Middle East is entering its third week. What began as a retaliatory strike has long since turned into a wildfire sweeping across the entire region. As the US and Israel launch almost daily airstrikes, the question is no longer whether the conflict will escalate, but how deep it will drag the region and the global economy into the abyss. And at the center of it all: a US president who doesn't want to pull the plug, and an Israel bracing for a long haul.

Trump's Hesitation: "The Conditions Just Aren't Good Enough Yet"

Conflicting signals are coming out of the White House these days. On one hand, Donald Trump emphasizes that Iran wants a deal. On the other, he's the one blocking it. In a confidential chat with US journalists this week, he dropped a bombshell: "Iran wants a deal, and I don't want one because the conditions just aren't good enough yet." For Trump, any agreement has to be "very robust" – meaning Iran must completely abandon its nuclear ambitions. A clear goal, but the path there is bloody. Meanwhile, the death toll in Iran has surpassed 3,000, according to local human rights activists. At least 1,319 civilians, including 206 children, are reportedly among the victims. Numbers that have sparked international horror but haven't been able to stop the military machine so far.

Israel Braces for Weeks of Fighting

While Trump plays for time, Israel takes action. The military has prepared to continue the war for at least another three weeks. A military spokesperson hinted that there are still "thousands of targets" on the list in Iran – leading up to the Jewish holiday of Passover, which begins early April this year. This is no longer just about symbolic strikes. Israel aims to sustainably destroy Iran's military infrastructure. Particularly explosive: the US deployment of bunker-busting bombs. The GBU-72s, weighing over two tons, were used to take out Iranian missile positions near the Strait of Hormuz. The strait, a choke point for global oil trade, is effectively paralyzed.

The Invisible Ally: The Story of US Aid to Iraq

You don't need to be a historian to see the irony of history. Today, the US is fighting Iran with full force. But there was a time when Washington and Baghdad were allies against a common enemy. Reading headlines today about "US Support for Iraq in the Iran-Iraq War" might make you shake your head in disbelief. In the 1980s, during the bitter war between Iran and Iraq, the US unequivocally sided with Saddam Hussein – despite all his human rights violations. It was the fear of the Iranian revolution spreading that drove Washington into that alliance back then. Intelligence, satellite imagery, and even direct military aid flowed to Baghdad to keep Iran in check. Today, a little over 40 years later, the axis has shifted. Now it's the US itself, alongside Israel, dropping bombs on Tehran. A historic about-face that shows how quickly geopolitical coordinates can shift.

Protest Within the Ranks: Counter-Terror Chief Resigns

Even within the innermost circle of the US government, dissent is growing. The director of the National Counterterrorism Center, a Republican and actually a Trump confidant, has thrown in the towel. His accusation carries weight: the war was started at Israel's urging, not because the US was directly threatened. A remarkable event showing that not everyone, even within the "Maga movement," stands behind the current strategy. The pressure on Trump is mounting – not only from the outside, but from within.

Germany and Europe: Between Concern and Keeping Their Distance

In Europe, developments are being watched with concern. Gas prices in Germany remain high, and experts don't expect any quick relief. "As long as the Strait of Hormuz is blocked, the oil price won't drop," predicts a geopolitics expert. The economic consequences are already massive. Politically, Germany is keeping its distance. Chancellor Friedrich Merz made it unmistakably clear in the Bundestag: "Washington did not consult us." There will be no German participation in securing shipping routes – there's simply no plan or mandate for that. They don't want to alienate the partner, but they also won't blindly rush into a war whose end no one can foresee.

What's Next?

The situation is deadlocked. Despite the heavy blows, Iran is showing it can still defend itself and has even attacked energy facilities in Qatar – a dangerous move that directly draws the Arab Gulf states into the conflict. Trump subsequently threatened the complete destruction of Iran's South Pars gas field. The spiral of escalation is spinning faster and faster. What's clear:

• Militarily: Israel is prepared for at least three more weeks of fighting.
• Economically: Energy prices remain high, the Strait of Hormuz is blocked.
• Politically: Even in the US, resistance is stirring, Europe keeps its distance.

What remains is the hope for a miracle. Or the bitter realization that this war is far from over. Week three has only just begun.