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It started with a promise: Open the Strait of Hormuz by April 6. Achieve the objectives. End the war in weeks.

Now, the deadline has passed. Iran and the US agreed to a conditional two-week ceasefire after violent attacks. But the status of the Strait is unclear and the ceasefire is being tested. What has the war brought to Washington?

Number one: Bills.

The US has spent around $45 billion so far – that's over $11,000 per second, $42,000 per hour, and $1 million per day.

And that's only the direct bill. The broader costs are visible in oil markets, shipping lanes, investment uncertainty, and grocery prices. According to the US Congressional Joint Economic Committee, American households paid $8.4 billion more for gasoline in just one month.

Number two: Geopolitical damage.

Even allies are pushing back against Trump's demands. Spain, Italy, the UK, and France have all denied the US full access to their military bases, while Trump has threatened to walk away from NATO. At the same time, disruptions to natural gas supplies could push Europe back toward Russian energy.

So Washington is left with a harder question: How much leverage does it really have over allies with different interests?

Number three: Political costs.

Trump's approval rating has hit a new low, and support from core voters is slipping. Trump launched the war for his political assets, but now lawmakers are calling for his removal from office.

So where does that leave us?

Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Qalibaf is to lead a delegation for talks with the US side in Pakistan, according to Xinhua News Agency. But the ceasefire does not necessarily mean the end of the war. Neither Iran nor the US has solved the root causes of this conflict: The Iranian government is unlikely to give up its pursuit of peaceful use of nuclear, and US sanctions remain in place.

But one thing is for sure: There is no military solution to a political problem. The root causes cannot be bombed away. Washington so far failed to achieve its objectives. The war is not over in weeks. The US military could not deliver on its own promises.

The ceasefire opens a channel for future talks, but how long will it last? The answer is whether Washington will pursue diplomacy or repeat the same old mistakes. In 2006, American political adviser Richard Perle was asked whether he would still support the Iraq invasion. His answer was no. Former US Secretary of State Colin Powell admitted the Iraq war was a "terrible mistake." Will those backing the war with Iran say the same one day?

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