Former US defense secretary Leon Panetta has warned that Donald Trump's war with Iran, now more than six months old, could continue for another six months and risks becoming a 'forever war'.
Key facts
- Leon Panetta, former US defense secretary, gave the warning in an interview with the Guardian.
- Panetta said the war with Iran is likely to drag on for another six months.
- The conflict was launched by Donald Trump more than six months ago.
- Panetta warned the war risks becoming a 'forever war in the Middle East'.
- He said 'turmoil' at the Pentagon is sending a message of weakness.
Donald Trump’s war with Iran is likely to continue for another six months, according to Leon Panetta, the former US defense secretary, who warned that the president is struggling to find a way out of the controversial conflict.
In an interview with the Guardian, Panetta said the war with Iran, which was launched by Trump more than six months ago, risks becoming another ‘forever war in the Middle East’, with no clear end in sight.
Panetta framed the situation as a serious strategic concern, cautioning that the United States is risking a prolonged and open-ended commitment in the region.
He also pointed to what he described as ‘turmoil’ at the Pentagon, saying it was sending a message of weakness, according to the Guardian.
The remarks from a former Pentagon chief add to scrutiny of the Trump administration’s handling of the conflict, which Panetta suggested lacks a clear path to resolution.
According to the Guardian, Panetta’s assessment underscores concerns that the war could extend well beyond its current duration without a defined endpoint.
Why it matters
A warning from a former US defense secretary that the Iran war could drag on for months carries weight in debates over American military commitments abroad. The prospect of another open-ended 'forever war' in the Middle East raises questions about strategy, cost and how the conflict might eventually end.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Leon Panetta?
Leon Panetta is a former US defense secretary who gave the warning about the Iran war in an interview with the Guardian.
How long has the war with Iran been going on?
According to the Guardian, the war was launched by Donald Trump more than six months ago.
What did Panetta say could happen next?
He warned the war is likely to drag on for another six months and risks becoming a 'forever war in the Middle East'.