What will the US do next in its war on Iran? Chinese pundits point to a likely path

The US is likely to “escalate to de-escalate” its conflict with Iran, planning more aggressive strikes in the coming weeks to force a resolution, even as a complete ceasefire seems unlikely, according to Chinese analysts.In a prime-time address on Wednesday, US President Donald Trump declared that the US-Israel war against Iran had delivered “decisive, overwhelming victories”, with Washington’s core military objectives nearly completed.Without giving details, Trump also threatened to send Tehran “back to the Stone Ages” over the next two to three weeks.In response, Tehran vowed on Thursday to continue the war until Washington and Jerusalem faced “permanent regret and surrender”, threatening “more crushing, broader and more destructive” attacks.Iranian military spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaqari said the United States and Israel had “incomplete” information about Iran’s military abilities and equipment, saying the country’s military production “takes place in locations that you are completely unaware of and will never be able to reach”.WATCH: Donald Trump addresses nationWATCH: Donald Trump addresses nationNow in its second month with no truce in sight, the war in the Middle East continues to destabilise global markets and strain transatlantic alliances while taking a toll on Trump’s domestic approval ratings.