The conflict began on February 28 when the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran. In response, Tehran launched attacks on Israel and many Gulf countries with US bases. Widespread fighting has killed thousands of people and displaced millions, while causing strong fluctuations in the global energy and economic markets.
Regarding the possibility of ending the military campaign, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on March 31 that the two sides are still exchanging messages and do not rule out the possibility of a direct meeting in the future. He believes that current communication channels can pave the way for a diplomatic solution to end the conflict.
US President Donald Trump previously also gave many different timelines for the possibility of ending the military campaign. He said that the US could stop operations for 2 to 3 weeks, and mentioned many different targets, from changing the Iranian government to weakening the country's military capabilities and regional influence.
In that context, Mr. Rubio emphasized that the US will have to re-evaluate NATO's role. He said that this alliance once served the interests of the US for a long time, but now raises the question of whether it can still meet its goals or has become a "one-way street", when the US takes on the responsibility of protecting Europe but does not receive commensurate support.
The assessment was made in the context of many European countries refusing to participate in attacks targeting Iran, including not allowing the use of bases or airspace for military operations. This raises debate about the level of cohesion and shared responsibility in the NATO alliance when facing major international crises.
