{
  "type": "article",
  "title": "US-Iran War Could Drag On Six More Months And Turn Into Another Afghanistan, Warns Former Pentagon Chief Panetta",
  "summary": "Former US defense secretary Leon Panetta has warned that the war between the United States and Iran could turn into another failed conflict like Afghanistan and drag on for six more months, though the Pentagon has rejected his claims.",
  "content": "Leon Panetta, the former US defense secretary and former CIA director, has issued a stark warning about the war between the United States and Iran, saying it could turn into another failed conflict for Washington, much like Afghanistan, and could keep dragging on for another six months.\n\nBoth sides stuck in a dangerous deadlock\nIn an interview with The Guardian, Panetta said the situation between the United States and Iran has become extremely difficult, with strikes and counterstrikes continuing from both sides. He said neither side appears to have a clear or easy way to bring the war to an end. If the current situation continues, he warned, the conflict could turn into another long, exhausting and ultimately unsuccessful war, just like Iraq and Afghanistan.\n\nThree paths left for the United States\nAccording to Panetta, the United States now effectively has only three options going forward.\n\n• The first option is for the US to end the war outright and accept that the military campaign did not fully achieve its objectives.\n• The second option is to let the current cycle of strikes and counterstrikes between Iran and the United States continue without any decisive outcome.\n• The third and biggest step would be for the US to seize direct control of the Strait of Hormuz, so that Iran cannot block this critically important maritime trade route.\n\nConcerns over friction inside the Pentagon\nThe former defense secretary also raised concerns about rising tension inside the US Department of Defense, the Pentagon. He said that if visible disagreements emerge within America's military leadership, adversaries of the United States could take advantage of the situation. According to Panetta, any sign of disunity at the top would signal to rival nations that Washington's strategy is faltering.\n\nFear of getting stuck in another long Middle East war\nPanetta said that if the current deadlock persists, the United States could once again find itself trapped in a long and complicated war in the Middle East, something American leadership has long tried to avoid. His comments were a clear reference to wars like Iraq and Afghanistan, conflicts that dragged on for years without delivering any concrete outcome for the United States.\n\nPentagon rejects the claims\nThe Pentagon, however, has completely rejected Panetta's claims. The Department of Defense said that under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the department is functioning fully and smoothly, and that there is no disorder or internal conflict of the kind being described.\n\nWhat this means for you\nIf this war keeps dragging on, it could directly hit crude oil prices and global markets, a pressure that will be felt in countries like India too.\n\n• Oil prices: Uncertainty over control of the Strait of Hormuz could disrupt crude oil supplies. If this route gets blocked, petrol and diesel prices in India could be affected.\n• Indian workers in the Gulf: A growing risk of prolonged war in the Middle East could raise safety concerns for the lakhs of Indian workers and their families living there. Travel and job-related decisions may need extra caution in the near term.\n• Pressure on stock markets: Prolonged geopolitical uncertainty can increase volatility in global stock markets. Investors may need to stay more cautious in the short term.\n• Changes to air travel: If the conflict escalates, flight routes and fares passing through the Middle East could be affected. Travellers should check airline advisories before booking tickets.\n• Diplomatic ripple effects: Whichever of the three options the US chooses in the coming weeks will shape the direction of global diplomacy. This could also affect the foreign policy calculations of several countries, including India.\n\nQuestions & Answers\n\n1. Who is Leon Panetta?\nLeon Panetta is the former US secretary of defense and former director of the CIA.\n\n2. What warning has Panetta given about the US-Iran war?\nHe has said the war could become another failed conflict like Afghanistan and could drag on for six more months.\n\n3. Where did Panetta make these comments?\nHe made these comments in an interview with The Guardian.\n\n4. What options does the US now have?\nAccording to Panetta, the US has three options: end the war, let the current strikes and counterstrikes continue, or seize control of the Strait of Hormuz.\n\n5. What did Panetta say about tension inside the Pentagon?\nHe said that visible disagreements within military leadership could be exploited by America's adversaries.\n\n6. How did the Pentagon respond to these claims?\nThe Pentagon rejected the claims, saying the department is functioning fully under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.",
  "url": "https://trendkia.com/en/america/us-iran-takarava-bana-sakata-hai-afghanistan-jaisi-lnbi-larai-panetta-ne-di-chetavani-28675",
  "category": "America",
  "publishedAt": "2026-09-06",
  "tags": [
    "US Iran War",
    "Leon Panetta",
    "Pentagon",
    "Strait of Hormuz",
    "Afghanistan War",
    "Pete Hegseth"
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "site": "TrendKia"
}