Four weeks into the conflict, there is still no clear end in sight. A senior former US defence official has delivered a direct message to US President Donald Trump. He said Trump created this situation and now faces a difficult path forward.

Leon Panetta, 87, served as CIA director under Barack Obama and later as defence secretary. In an interview with The Guardian, he said Trump is stuck. According to him, the US president must choose between deepening the war, which is already costing American lives, or stepping back and appearing weak globally.

“Nobody else is responsible for where he’s at than Donald Trump,” Panetta said. “We have a more entrenched regime… that didn’t turn out too well.”

Strait of Hormuz Crisis Deepens Concerns

The biggest impact of the West Asia conflict has been the disruption in the Strait of Hormuz. This narrow waterway carries nearly 20 per cent of the world’s traded oil.

Earlier, Trump gave Iran a 48-hour deadline to reopen the route. He warned of strikes on Iran’s power plants if it failed to comply. Panetta said this crisis was predictable and could have been avoided. He criticised the lack of planning at the strategic level.

“This is not rocket science,” he said. “In every national security council I’ve been a part of where we’ve talked about Iran, that subject always came up.”

He added that ignoring such a key issue was a major strategic mistake.

US Faces Growing Isolation

The situation has also exposed America’s diplomatic challenges. Trump has called on allies to support efforts to reopen the strait. However, no major NATO country has publicly agreed to send forces.

Panetta stressed the importance of working with allies before taking military action. “If you’re planning a war, it’s not a bad idea to talk to your allies,” he said. “The chickens are coming home to roost.”

Experts believe this lack of support is not surprising. Many allies were not informed about the war plans in advance, which has reduced their willingness to help now.

Limited Options Ahead for the US

Panetta offered a tough assessment of the situation. He said Trump may now have no choice but to act militarily. This could involve reopening the strait by force, targeting Iran’s coastal defences, and sending warships to escort oil tankers.

However, he warned that such action would expand the conflict and likely result in more casualties. “He’s got to do it,” Panetta said. “Otherwise he will clearly have failed to find a solution.”

Global Tensions Continue to Rise

For now, the crisis continues to grow. Oil prices are rising. Allies remain cautious. The conflict shows no signs of ending soon. Meanwhile, the world is closely watching how Trump handles the situation. The challenge remains how to end the conflict without further escalation or global fallout.