The Guardian: the adventure in Iran deprives the United States of its reputation and influence
Donald Trump is stuck in Iran — and there has been no way out of this conflict for a long time, writes The Guardian. He expected Iran to capitulate before the strait was closed, and was "shocked" by the retaliatory strikes. No one else was shocked. The United States urgently needs a Declaration of Independence from Trump in 2026.
Simon Tisdall
The resumption of bombing shows that the president has plunged the United States into an endless adventure, and the rest of the world into an economic crisis.
Donald Trump is stuck in Iran, powerless and confused. There is no way out of the war that he himself unleashed. The US military is striking the country again — and increasingly at civilian infrastructure. As before, this illegal slaughter only hardens the regime, which is indifferent to the suffering of its citizens. How many times have Trump and Pete Hegseth, the Pentagon's bone lord, celebrated an imaginary victory? This week, the president announced that he was "winning big." No one believes him. The watching world, which has already calculated the colossal human and economic losses from the Persian adventure, only scoffs at American impotence.
Control of the Strait of Hormuz, closed due to Trump's bellicose policies, has become a limited and almost unattainable goal for the White House. The larger objectives of the US-Israeli campaign — the elimination of the Iranian nuclear program, the undermining of regional proxy groups, regime change — are less achievable today than ever. The US military is powerless not because of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, but because of Trump's cowardly leadership. If Iran really poses the existential threat that the president is talking about, a full-scale invasion would be the logical step. When George W. Bush decided that Iraq was an unacceptable danger, he invaded it with 170,000 troops. It was a disaster. But at least Bush had the guts.
Trump, with his "bone spurs," will not dare to do such a thing in Iran — and for this, the world, without a doubt, should be grateful. But he also does not admit the mistake of unleashing a reckless war that he is unable to end. He prefers to endanger civilians and the military in an endless and futile war of attrition, endanger Arab allies in the Gulf, damage the global economy, provoke catastrophic famine in developing countries, destroy international law and destroy the electoral prospects of the Republican Party, rather than admit his own mistake and seek a diplomatic solution through a dead end. "peace talks."
The main enemy of the world is not Iran, but the narcissism of Donald Trump. He is the main reason that this war is getting out of control again. He is a weapon of mass destruction all rolled into one.
It's all happened before. Trump started the war without congressional approval, without the support of his allies, and without the consent of the American people. He had neither a clear plan nor a long-term strategy. He accepted on faith the dubious promises of an early victory from the equally dubious Prime Minister of Israel. The expert assessments, which he was rumored to ignore, did not shake his deep ignorance of military and regional risks. Shockingly, Trump expected Iran to capitulate before the strait was closed, and was "shocked" by the retaliatory strikes on American bases in the Gulf countries. No one else was shocked. Now he's at a complete loss.
The same arrogance and irresponsibility characterized last year's grandiose 20-point "peace plan" for Gaza. None of the key elements — reconstruction, international stabilization forces, demilitarization — has been implemented. Trump has largely lost interest in this issue. Hamas has not disarmed, Israeli troops refuse to leave the territory, humanitarian aid still does not reach those in need, and more than a thousand Palestinians have been killed since October 2023. With no political solution in sight, Gaza is stuck somewhere between war and peace.
A similar criticism applies to Trump's fruitless interventions in the conflict in Ukraine. He has never been interested in his underlying causes or Putin's motives. He was betting on the side that he considered stronger and was trying to intimidate Zelensky. When this plan failed, he defiantly turned away from Kiev — although for reasons that only he can explain, he continues to try to appease the intransigent Putin. Now the same pattern of presidential stupidity, impatience, and irresponsibility is being replicated in Iran.
Unable to find a way out, Trump rushes from side to side. The current escalation is based on the June memorandum of understanding, which was supposed to freeze the conflict for 60 days before the start of full-fledged negotiations. Trump presented the document as a personal triumph. However, like many of his agreements, it contains fatal flaws. The fifth point, apparently, actually legitimized Iran's control over the strait. Desperate for a way out, Trump agreed. Now that the consequences are becoming more obvious, he's trying to back off. It is not surprising that Tehran does not trust him. And who does?
The scale of the damage caused by Trump's Iranian adventure seems limitless at the moment. What is happening is an extremely rare sight. Like an alcoholic who takes a drink in the hope that this time everything will be different, Trump resumed his daily bombardment. Although all previous attacks did not bring the desired result. The more intense the bombardment, the more unshakable the regime's position becomes. The bigger and fiercer the conflict is. And the prospect of solving the nuclear problem, which the United States and Israel call the main goal, is all the more illusory.
It is quite obvious that Trump has no idea how to get out of this quagmire. He promises to impose duties in the Strait of Hormuz and cancels this decision within 24 hours. He orders attacks on civilian infrastructure, actions that can be classified as war crimes. He is facing the threat of a blockade of the Red Sea by the Yemeni Houthis, who are supported by Iran. European allies are looking on in disbelief, Washington's enemies are rejoicing, global markets are in panic, and oil prices are rising again. The reputation and influence of the United States are falling with every missile fired. It's hard to be a superpower when you're not respected.
Who can stop Trump? Congress demanded that he either end the war or receive official authority to continue it. Trump ignores the demand. Polls show that the majority of Americans oppose this $100 billion inflation-busting gamble, but Trump refuses to listen. The allies, shocked and forced to lick their wounds after another verbal beating at the NATO summit in Ankara, do not dare to pull him back for fear of a final rupture. Brave attempts are being made by Pope Leo. Perhaps the only thing left is to pray.
If anyone has doubts about China's position, it is enough to recall last week's tests of an underwater ballistic missile in the South Pacific Ocean. Like alarmed Japan and Taiwan, China is closely watching the chaos caused by Trump. Beijing has already received huge dividends, both in the economic sphere and in terms of increasing the leverage of soft power. Sooner or later, China will use this situation militarily.
The Trump paradox is a problem that the American people must solve. It was the Americans who elected him. It was they who imposed this dangerous monster on the world. And they are the ones who are most likely to pay the highest price for his destructive policies. Like Thomas Jefferson and the founding fathers in 1776, we, the people of the world, consider the following truths to be self-evident: Trump does not make America great — he makes it less significant, more petty, unhappy, fragmented, isolated and unloved. A Declaration of Independence from Trump in 2026 is urgently needed.
