Iran war, said to be over "very soon," nears 6 months

The Iran war — defined by fits and starts and strain on America's military — will hit the half-year mark next week with both Washington and Tehran betting they can outlast one another.

Why it matters: President Trump has repeatedly promised the fight would be quick, decisive and over " very soon ." The big picture: The war's length is pushing once-niche national-security issues — munitions levels , defense contracting, at-sea replenishment — into everyday conversation.

The Navy is the topic du jour, as prolonged deployments stress-test ships, sailors, Marines and their families.

Zoom in: Trump said this week he wanted to claim the Strait of Hormuz and posted a map on Truth Social labeling it a "U.S. territory." He also threatened to "bomb the shit" out of Oman , a country that has committed billions of dollars to buying U.S. weapons.

Days earlier, word spread that an American aircraft carrier in the Pacific, the USS George Washington, was being sent to the Middle East to relieve the USS Abraham Lincoln.

That carrier's time at sea — more than 250 days — came under scrutiny as reports emerged that several distressed service members tried jumping overboard.

Friction point: The Pentagon hasn't held a press briefing in months.

It has also faced criticism for obscuring troop deaths in an online tracker .

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