Panetta on Iran war: US ‘in deep trouble’

News Panetta on Iran war: US ‘in deep trouble’ Comments: by Mira Bhakta - 07/24/26 5:59 PM ET Comments: Link copied by Mira Bhakta - 07/24/26 5:59 PM ET Comments: Link copied

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Former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said the United States is in “deep trouble” with the Iran war, comparing it to the U.S.’s drawn-out conflict in Vietnam.

Panetta, who also led the CIA during the Obama administration, told CNN in an interview that “history tells us that forever wars do not end well,” when asked which side had the upper hand in the conflict.

The former CIA chief criticized the Trump administration for the lack of a clear objective for the Iran war.

“He continues military attacks, which intelligence makes clear is not going to move Iran. And at the same time, the American people are paying a very heavy price as a result of oil prices going sky high and the cost of living increasing as much as it is,” Panetta argued.

President Trump had promised the conflict would last around four to five weeks, but it has dragged on for nearly five months.

Panetta went further to say that the outlook to end the war “does not look well” and Trump is “basically in a box right now trying to figure out if there’s a way out.”

Panetta’s comments come even as some Republicans begin to voice concerns about the war effort. Senate Republican Policy Committee Chair Shelley Moore Capito (W.Va.) said the American public is “growing weary” of the long military conflict with Iran.

“Naturally all of us are concerned because we’ve lost three wonderful, wonderful service people in the last little while,” Sen. Jim Justice (R-W.Va.) said, referring to three U.S. service members killed in recent days.

Support for the war has also plummeted among Trump voters with nearly 1 in 5 MAGA voters saying the war should end regardless of the costs.

When asked by CNN host Brianna Keilar what the U.S. can do to restart negotiations with Iran, Panetta said, “There’s only one way I’ve thought of to achieve any kind of leverage in dealing with Iran, and that relates to the Straits of Hormuz.”

“What the United States has to do in order to get any kind of leverage here is, it has to take control of the Straits of Hormuz and be able to control the free access that is necessary in order to be able to restore our economy,” he continued.

“If the president doesn’t take any action to be able to take control of the Straits of Hormuz, then I think we’re only left with the hope that somehow we’re going to get back to a negotiating table,” he concluded.