WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump’s six-month military campaign against Iran is increasingly drawing comparisons with the prolonged wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, raising concerns that Washington could become trapped in another open-ended Middle East conflict.
Trump entered his second term promising to act as a “president of peace” and avoid foreign wars. But his campaign against Iran has developed into a prolonged conflict marked by repeated attacks, economic pressure and growing regional instability.
US officials argue that the Iran campaign is fundamentally different from the post-9/11 wars because Washington has relied primarily on air and naval power rather than large ground deployments to seize and hold territory.
However, analysts say the conflict has failed to produce a clear military or political end state. After six months of fighting, Iran remains capable of retaliating, while Trump continues to tighten economic pressure on Tehran.
Why is the Iran war being compared with Iraq and Afghanistan?
The comparison comes as the United States approaches the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, which led to the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq in 2003.
Analysts say one of the major lessons of those wars was the political and economic cost of prolonged military campaigns against determined adversaries. The Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts eventually became deeply unpopular in the United States and contributed to wider instability across the Middle East.
Critics argue Trump may have underestimated Iran’s ability to withstand US military pressure and disrupt energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil supplies.
Iran’s disruption of shipping has contributed to higher US gasoline prices, while the conflict has also weakened Trump’s approval ratings and created additional pressure on American consumers.
Could the Iran conflict become a prolonged war?
Analysts warn that the conflict could continue beyond the November midterm elections, potentially creating political problems for Trump and Republicans seeking to retain control of Congress.
The conflict has also created tensions with US allies. Unlike the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Trump launched the Iran campaign with limited prior consultation with European and Asian partners, many of whom have been reluctant to provide direct assistance.
Iranian retaliation against US partners in the Gulf has further widened the conflict, forcing regional governments to seek de-escalation.
Trump administration officials maintain that the campaign has achieved its objectives and significantly damaged Iran’s military and economy. Supporters of the operation reject comparisons with the post-9/11 wars and argue that continued pressure will eventually force Tehran to concede.
For now, however, the conflict remains unresolved, with no clear exit strategy and continuing risks of wider regional escalation.