Positive but cautious welcome — Turkey views the US-Iran agreement as a welcome step toward de-escalation, regional stability, and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, with President Erdoğan describing it as an important development for peace.

Opportunity for Turkish diplomacy — Ankara sees the deal as reinforcing its mediator role and creating space to expand its regional influence, while urging all parties to avoid provocations that could derail the fragile ceasefire.

Pragmatic realism on limitations — The agreement is seen as a temporary framework rather than a comprehensive solution; Turkey will push for lasting peace while advancing its own strategic interests in the post-conflict Middle East.

In 2013, Micheal Krepon wrote an essay in which he argued that the US, since 1945, has generally failed to end wars victoriously and decisively — with the exception of the first Gulf war against Saddam Hussein.

He quotes from Fred Charles Ikle’s 1971 book “Every War Must End” the following line: “Government leaders that make momentous decisions to go to war, or decisions that could lead to war, are obliged to have military and diplomatic strategies to end hostilities on favorable terms.”

Ikle warns US policymakers that American forces must not be committed to combat without a clear military strategy. He argues that most leaders focus heavily on how wars start and are fought, but pay far less attention to how they actually end.

When US President Donald Trump ordered strikes on Iran in late February, it was apparent that Washington lacked a coherent strategy. There was little clarity about the objectives of the war, how to achieve them, or what a clear exit strategy would look like.

This reminds us of........

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