‘Nobody else is responsible’: Trump to blame for Iran crisis, ex-CIA chief says
The Guardian • • nation
Key Points:
- Former US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta criticizes President Donald Trump’s handling of the war with Iran, describing Trump as naive and stuck between escalating the conflict or appearing weak.
- The conflict began with a strike killing Iran’s Supreme Leader, but has since escalated with significant casualties and Iran retaliating by closing the strategic Strait of Hormuz, disrupting global oil markets.
- Panetta warns that Trump’s failure to prepare for Iran’s blockade of the strait has caused an energy crisis, and the president faces a difficult choice: use military force to reopen the strait or declare a hollow victory without a ceasefire.
- Trump’s strained relations with NATO allies and inconsistent messaging have left him isolated, reducing international support for the US-led
