I study international relations. Here’s why the Iran War is heading for a frozen conflict

NewsWorldMiddle EastI study international relations. Here’s why the Iran War is heading for a frozen conflictA frozen conflict is not static, but is an unresolved war that continues at a low-level below the threshold of full-scale combatJessica Genauer The Conversation & Benedict MoletaTuesday 21 April 2026 16:36 BSTBookmarkCommentsGo to commentsBookmark popoverRemoved from bookmarksClose popover{"translations":{"comments":"Go to comments","share":"Share","copyLink":"Copy link","bookmark":"Bookmark","removeBookmark":"Remove bookmark"},"showComments":true,"showBookmark":true,"articleId":"b2962012","articleMeta":{"url":"https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/iran-war-israel-ceasefire-lebanon-trump-frozen-conflict-b2962012.html","title":"Here’s why the Iran War is heading for a frozen conflict"}}CloseTrump accuses Iran of attempting to get "a gift from china" amid warOn The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondentsGet a weekly dispatch from our international correspondentsGet a weekly international news dispatchEmail*SIGN UPI would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice{"className":"sc-1ge0fwe-0","newsletterData":{"regSourceNewsletter":"IND_On_The_Ground_Newsletter","regTitle":"On The Ground","subscriptionGroup":"on_the_ground","subscriptionGroupId":"14806361-6435-4d19-b06e-05326605fb01","pathPrefix":["/news/world/europe","/news/world/middle-east","/news/world/australasia","/news/world/africa","/asia"],"associatedAuthors":["Bel Trew","Sam Kiley"],"title":"On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents","mobileTitle":"Get a weekly international news dispatch","lengthenedMobileTitle":"Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents","imageSrc":"https://static.independent.co.uk/static-assets/images/newsletters/onTheGround1_1.png","newsletterKey":"receiveOnTheGround","regSourceSection":"Middle East","regSourceMetho...