Iran standoff – looking for an exit strategy

   The Iran impasse continues as the world waits and watches with gloomy predictions about rising prices and rising inflation as well as food shortages the longer it lasts.

 Trump initially said the war would last four to six weeks. The conflict has lasted two months and Democrats are threatening to sue if the war continues beyond Friday, the 60-day deadline by which point the Trump Administration is obliged to seek congressional approval under the War Powers Act. The cost so far is mooted at $25 billion, though that is likely to be way below actualite. The Pentagon is reportedly seeking an additional $200 billion to refill its depleted stocks of missiles and bombs.

The Trump administration has announced a mammoth $1.5 trillion budget for the Pentagon in 2027 — about a 40 per cent increase on American defence spending in 2026 adjusted for inflation. So much for campaign promises.

  Though talk of an Iraq quagmire is almost certainly off the mark. It launched on 20 March 2003 with the last degree Pisces Sun exactly conjunct Scheat square a war-mongering Saturn opposition Pluto. There is nothing similar even for this calamitous misjudgment. The Iraq foray came to an end in 2011 when tr Uranus was conjunct the 2003 Attack Sun.

 On the Iran attack chart, 28 February 2026, tr Uranus will trine the Pluto through this July which might give cause for hope. With tr Jupiter moving across the IC into the peaceful 4^th in July as well.  Late May however does not look equable with a heavyweight Mars in Taurus square Pluto, which is ruthless and destructive and rattles the Attack Pluto in the 10^th (= struggle for the upper hand).

  The Iran (22 December 1501)/Israel relationship chart also hints at a shift in July with tr Uranus trine the composite Pluto.  With the USA there may be glimmerings of daylight breaking through from now onwards (not visible at present) and again July looks hopeful.

 The Iran country chart is formidably difficult with Mars in Taurus opposition Pluto in Scorpio square Uranus at zero Pisces. And has been rattled badly in recent months with Uranus exiting Taurus.  It will not be any easier to negotiate with in future but there may be a shift with tr Uranus clearing the hard aspect to its T square after mid May. 2028/9 looks a critical, potential history-changing moment with the SA Pluto conjunct the troublesome Taurus North Node.

 Given that eclipses give longer term hints (six months at least) it may be the recent February Solar Eclipse is still carrying the imprint of the final days of Uranus in Taurus. Uranus may have moved into Gemini but the old bulldozer is not quite gone.

 The August 12 Leo Solar Eclipse is the first to carry the new era Air Fire outer planet combination moving forward. In a cheering Saros series that points to stuck situations finding a solution, this August eclipse will have an effect for a month or so before the date itself. Set for Teheran it has a confident New Moon Jupiter Mercury in the upbeat 5^th house and for Washington it has a happy-news-from-abroad New Moon Jupiter in the 9^th. Whatever solution turns up it will have to be a facesaver for both sides. For DC it has a ‘seething’ 8^th house Mars inconjunct a 3^rd house Pluto – so there will be gritted teeth.

  Trump’s relationship with the USA will be sagging badly now to late May with tr Neptune square the composite Sun; high tension in July with tr Uranus square the composite Saturn with eruptions of bad temper (on both sides) – and those run on into 2027. He might finally have managed to shoot himself in the foot – at great cost to everyone else.

 His undermining Solar Arc Neptune is now exactly opposition his Sun and staying there for several months. And his Solar Arc Midheaven is still sitting on his 12^th house Pluto (= Mars/Saturn) which may have been an impetus for this ‘Epic Fury’ fandango.

  One oddity is his Progressed Moon now three months into is 4^th which is usually an inward looking, family-focused, quieter time. ‘It is a time for deep emotional processing rather than seeking public recognition.’ Tr Jupiter is also moving into his 12^th from early this July for a year which is also a time for quiet reflection. Seems unlikely.

Best I can do on a timeline but crossing fingers it comes before July.