Former US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta stated that he did not expect the war between Washington and Tehran to end in the short term and assessed that the conflicts could continue for at least another six months.
Panetta, who was also the CIA Director during the Barack Obama administration, said in an interview with the Guardian that there is a serious stalemate between the USA and Iran and that the options to end the war are gradually decreasing.
Panetta warned that the current situation could turn into a new Middle East war that lasts for a long time and does not produce a clear political result, similar to what happened in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Panetta stated that it is unlikely that the war will be resolved in the next six months if the parties maintain their current stances.
Arguing that the USA and Iran seem ready neither for comprehensive negotiations nor to step back, Panetta stated that mutual attacks further deepen the current impasse.
The former Minister of Defense said that this scenario could drag Washington into a new long-term war in the Middle East.
DRAW ATTENTION TO THE TENSION IN THE PENTAGON
Panetta also drew attention to the management discussions in the Pentagon during the period when the US army was fighting the Iran war.
Speaking after the resignation of US Minister of Land Forces Dan Driscoll, Panetta argued that the tension in the military command structure increased question marks regarding the management of the war.
Stating that US soldiers were sent to war at a time when there were serious debates in the command level, Panetta argued that this situation could send a message of "weakness" to Washington's rivals.
Panetta said that not only Iran, but also countries such as China, Russia and North Korea are closely following the developments in the United States.
Arguing that a perception of weakness in Washington's capacity to use its military power effectively could encourage the United States' rivals, Panetta stated that this poses a serious security risk.
Pentagon Spokesperson Sean Parnell stated that the allegations that the Department of Defense is in disarray do not reflect the truth and said that the institution continues its work under the management of Pete Hegseth.
ACCORDING TO PANETTA, TRUMP HAS THREE OPTIONS
Panetta argued that US President Donald Trump's options regarding Iran are increasingly narrowing and pointed to three possible scenarios.
Stating that the first option is for the United States to withdraw from the war, Panetta said that this could mean admitting that the war was unsuccessful for Trump and that such a step is unlikely.
Stating that the second option is to continue the current stalemate, Panetta stated that in this case, the USA and Iran will continue mutual attacks, but will try to avoid triggering a larger-scale war.
According to Panetta, this scenario carries the risk of the conflict turning into a new Middle East war that could last for years.
The third option listed by Panetta is changing control over the Strait of Hormuz.
Stating that Iran's capacity to close the strait or disrupt commercial passage is one of Tehran's most important trump cards against Washington, Panetta argued that the strategic priority of the USA should be to keep the Strait of Hormuz open safely.
Panetta said the current stalemate with mutual attacks is more likely to continue unless Washington redefines the goals of the war.
HE CRITICISM TRUMP'S IRAN POLICY
Panetta also criticized Trump's previous statements that an agreement to end the war was close.
Arguing that the messages given by the US President on Iran damaged Washington's credibility, Panetta stated that the administration should reveal its military and political goals more clearly.
US Vice President JD Vance said in a statement during the week that he did not describe the military conflict with Iran as a "war".
When asked whether the conflicts would end before the midterm elections in November, Vance replied that he did not know.
USS ABRAHAM CITED LINCOLN AS AN EXAMPLE
Panetta also noted the effects of the war on US military personnel.
Citing the long mission of the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier as an example, Panetta said that soldiers cannot be kept in the war zone indefinitely and personnel rotation needs to be better planned.
USS Abraham Lincoln, which has approximately 5 thousand personnel, arrived in Thailand after months of uninterrupted sea duty after serving in operations against Iran.
Concerns about the crew's living conditions and mental health were also raised during the long mission.
Panetta emphasized that the Pentagon should focus more on not only the military dimension of the war, but also the physical and psychological conditions of the soldiers serving.
