A former director of the CIA believes there is “no question” that the US would be dragged into a regional war if they launch a military strike against Iran. Donald Trump has said he will make a decision on whether to authorise direct military intervention against the country “in the next two weeks,” with Israel reported to be keen to utilise American so-called “bunker buster” bombs to target Iranian underground nuclear facilities.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has warned that any US strike on his country would be met with ‘irreparable consequences’, as the conflict continues to threaten escalation. Leon Panetta, who served as Director of the CIA between 2009 and 2011, has warned his government that military action by Trump would put the two countries at war. Warning that the US made a “terrible mistake” by invading Iraq two decades ago, he said: “It’s a lesson that the president needs to learn, because if he goes in and attacks Iran, then there’s no question that the United States would be in a regional war at that point.
The former Secretary of Defence also believes that Iran would be sure to retaliate if it was attacked by the US.
He added to CNN: “So make no mistake about it. It may be an airstrike, but it would definitely involve the United States in a war with [Iran].”
Donald Trump has consistently stated in recent weeks that Iran cannot be allowed to have a nuclear weapon, a message echoed by his vice-president JD Vance.
However, doubts remain over just how close the regime is to being able to make nuclear warheads.
Just two months ago Tulsi Gabbard, US Director of National Intelligence said that “the US intelligence Community continues to assess that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon and Supreme Leader Khamenei has not authorised the nuclear weapons program that he suspended in 2003.”
However, this was dismissed by President Trump this week who said that his intelligence community had “got it wrong”.
Following the comments by her boss, Ms Gabbard performed a stunning u-turn, writing on X that the media had “taken my testimony out of context” and accused them of spreading “fake news” to create division.
The potential for conflict has divided opinion amongst Donald Trump’s closest supporters, with many prominent voices within the Republican party warning the president against the temptation for launching an attack.
Throughout his election campaign Trump promised on numerous occasions to end US involvement in foreign wars, famously vowing to end the conflict between Ukraine and Russia on day one of his second term.
The conflict between he two Middle Eastern superpowers continues to escalate, with 400 people confirmed to have been killed in Iran since the two countries began exchanging missile attacks last week.
Citing the head of Iran’s Ministry of Health Information Centre, Iran state media: “400 dead, 3,056 injured by Israel’s missiles and drones.
“Of the dead, 54 were women & children. 5 were health workers. The majority of the casualties were civilians.”