Former CIA Chief slams Donald Trump, says Iran war has trapped US in Middle East

Washington: The conflict in West Asia is now becoming a source of growing trouble for the United States. No matter how loudly the U.S. and Israel may boast of victory, the truth remains that they were completely unprepared for the manner in which Iran launched its counterattack. US President Donald Trump is now facing warnings from within the United States itself regarding his decision to strike Iran. Leon Panetta—the former CIA Director who played a pivotal role in the killing of Osama bin Laden—lashed out at Trump, stating that he has trapped the world's most powerful military in a predicament where it is unable to either secure the Strait of Hormuz or rally its NATO allies to its side.

What did Leon Panetta say?

Panetta, who has served as both U.S. Secretary of Defense and CIA Director, alleged that President Trump failed to fully comprehend the situation before authorizing the attack on Iran. In an interview with the British newspaper *The Guardian*, Panetta remarked that the U.S. military has become ensnared in a situation from which the current leadership appears ill-prepared to extricate it.

What did Leon Panetta say about Iran?

Panetta noted that the United States has previously engaged in discussions regarding the issue of Iran, but on every prior occasion, the focus was on addressing the inherent risks and complications. He stated, "I have participated in numerous national security meetings where Iran was a central topic of discussion. This issue has consistently been on the agenda. However, every previous administration understood and acknowledged the complexities involved; the Trump administration, by contrast, proved to be an outlier. They launched an attack without first formulating a coherent strategy.

The failure to devise a strategy prior to striking Iran constitutes a major political failure." It is worth noting that many experts believe that had the Trump administration developed a strategy for this conflict, they would have undoubtedly factored the critical importance of the Strait of Hormuz into their planning. Panetta echoed this sentiment, asserting that the current predicament should have been fully anticipated and taken into account when the decision to strike Iran was made.

Is Mojtaba Khamenei a big challenge for US?

Panetta observed that, through its airstrike, the United States effectively eliminated Qasem Soleimani—a key figure under Supreme Leader Khamenei. Now, Khamenei's son, Mojtaba Khamenei, has emerged as the successor. He is currently young, tough, and considered less inclined to yield through diplomatic dialogue. He stated, "We now face a young Supreme Leader who is here for the long haul and is even more hardline than before."

Has Donald Trump committed a mistake by not consulting NATO allies?

Panetta accused US President Donald Trump of alienating NATO allies. He asserted that initiating a war without consulting one's allies was a suicidal move. Today, Trump is seeking assistance from the very nations he previously insulted and antagonized.

It is worth noting that Trump currently appears isolated on the international stage. Throughout his tenure, he has characterized NATO as a burden and criticized allied nations; yet now, despite his appeals, those very countries are unwilling to dispatch ships to help keep the Strait of Hormuz open. Trump has gone so far as to label NATO a "paper tiger" and its members "cowards." Consequently, several nations have refused to align themselves with Trump. However, the UK has recently granted permission for the use of its base at Diego Garcia for potential strikes against Iran.