President Donald Trump is returning to the United Nations amid growing skepticism over his handling of a six-month war involving US forces and Iran. Tehran remains defiant despite military and economic damage, obstructing oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz while its Houthi allies in Yemen have tightened control over the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a crucial Red Sea shipping corridor. The developments have increased energy prices, challenged Saudi Arabia and exposed limits on Washington's ability to protect regional partners. Most European and Asian allies have rejected Trump's requests for assistance in a conflict launched without consulting them, while high US gasoline prices and low approval ratings could hurt Republicans in November's midterm elections. Trump is expected to portray the campaign as a success, although the conflict has hardened into an uneasy stalemate, failed to meet his shifting objectives and depleted Pentagon missile stockpiles. Experts also dispute his claims that US strikes eliminated Iran's nuclear capabilities: the attacks seriously delayed the program but did not remove Iran's stockpile of near-weapons-grade highly enriched uranium, believed to have been buried before the June 2025 strikes. The United States is weighing how to protect Red Sea navigation without opening another dangerous mission for a military already engaged against Iran. Analysts warn the conflict could continue beyond the midterm elections.