Washington, September 6 (Daily Kiran) : Former U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has issued a stark warning that the ongoing military conflict between the United States and Iran could last for an additional six months, potentially evolving into a prolonged war in the Middle East.
Panetta expressed concerns about the current stalemate between Washington and Tehran, noting that neither side appears willing to engage in negotiations or take significant risks that might lead to a resolution. In an interview with The Guardian, he stated, “I believe there is a strong likelihood that this war will continue for the next six months without any solution.”
Having served as CIA director under former President Barack Obama, Panetta pointed out that President Donald Trump has limited options to resolve the conflict that began over six months ago. One option would be for Trump to halt military operations and acknowledge their lack of success, though Panetta considers this unlikely.
Another possibility is the continuation of the current situation, where the U.S. and Iran intermittently attack each other while trying to avoid a full-scale war. Panetta believes this could lead to an extended conflict without any clear outcome.
He outlined a third option: the U.S. could seek to establish control over the Strait of Hormuz and eliminate Iran’s ability to disrupt traffic through this strategically vital maritime route. If the U.S. administration aims to claim clear military success, Panetta suggests that fully opening the Strait should be a primary goal.
Panetta also criticized Trump’s repeated assertions that a deal is imminent and the Strait remains open, arguing that such statements have undermined the president’s credibility.
Earlier this week, Vice President J.D. Vance stated he would not classify the situation as a war. When asked whether it would conclude before the midterm elections in November, he admitted he did not know, emphasizing that the outcome largely depends on Iran’s actions.
Additionally, Panetta raised concerns about leadership changes and alleged internal tensions within the Pentagon, following the resignation of Army Secretary Dan Driscoll. Reports indicated disagreements between Driscoll and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth regarding personnel decisions.
He warned that such leadership tensions could create uncertainty among U.S. troops and signal weakness to rival nations like China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran.
In response, the Pentagon dismissed Panetta’s assessment, asserting that the Department of Defense is operating at full capacity under Hegseth’s leadership. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell called reports of disorder within the department unfounded.
Panetta also questioned whether adequately supporting long-deployed troops is a priority. He cited the USS Abraham Lincoln, which recently reached Thailand after participating in operations against Iran without docking for over 260 days.
This warning comes on the heels of a recent attack by U.S. forces on three Iranian oil tankers, following ballistic missile strikes on an American aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer by Iran, according to U.S. Central Command.
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