Analysis: Trump's Iran Gambit Leaves US Allies Feeling Burned
A Guardian column argues that the failed war with Iran has drained US military stockpiles and strained relations with allies from Canada to South Korea.
Six months after the United States launched a military campaign against Iran, the country remains under the control of hardline leaders who are demanding financial concessions from Washington, including reparations and a toll on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, according to a Guardian analysis.
The piece argues that President Trump, emboldened after the operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, expected a quick victory over Tehran that would open Iran's oil resources to American exploitation. Instead, the war has become a standoff, with Trump now threatening new "D-day" sanctions to try to force Iran's economy into collapse.
The analysis contends that the Pentagon cannot revert to full-scale military action even if ordered, because the earlier campaign, referred to in the piece as Operation Epic Fury, depleted munitions stockpiles. It cites figures suggesting more than 1,500 Patriot missile interceptors — costing $4 million to $5 million each — have been fired during the conflict, leaving fewer than 830 in the U.S. inventory. That depletion, the column argues, has consequences for Ukraine, where top-end U.S. interceptors are needed to protect civilians from Russian missiles.
The piece also points to strained relationships with U.S. allies. Gulf states that came under Iranian retaliation feel unrewarded for hosting American military bases, it says. Last week, Trump cut short a joint military exercise with South Korea, framing the move as a gesture toward North Korea rather than acknowledging strain from Middle East commitments, according to the analysis.
Canada's relationship with Washington has also deteriorated. Prime Minister Mark Carney pulled out of trade talks over the weekend, citing what he called unreasonable last-minute U.S. demands, and Trump responded with new tariffs. Canada has promised "dollar-for-dollar" retaliation, the piece notes.
The column concludes that Trump cannot be swayed by unfavorable election outcomes and would likely dispute their legitimacy, but suggests that if Republicans lose control of the House of Representatives in November's midterms — a possibility the analysis says is likely, with the Senate also at risk — it could push some Republicans to break from what it describes as their party's deference to the president.
This article was produced with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI), in accordance with our editorial policy.
