Stalemate Lingers as US-Iran War Costs Mount

Despite some initial success in loosening Iran's grip on the Strait of Hormuz and crippling its economy, the costly war between the US and Iran is far from over. The stalemate has been ongoing since February, with no clear victor in sight. In recent weeks, the US has managed to increase oil exports through the strait by facilitating greater exports by Gulf countries.

According to figures compiled by Homayoun Falakshahi, an oil expert at Kpler, Iran's oil exports have dropped from 1.85 million barrels a day last spring to around 255,000 in August. Exports of non-Iranian oil rose from 300,000 barrels a day at the height of the war to 8.4 million in September.

However, the increased flow depends on a major US deployment in the strait that has strained the military's resources. The unpopular war has already cost US taxpayers more than $37.5 billion and left 18 US service members dead.