Leon Panetta warns Iran war could continue for another six months

Leon Panetta has warned that the war between the United States and Iran could drag on for another six months, with no resolution in sight. The former defense secretary and CIA director said the conflict risked becoming another “endless war in the Middle East.”

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I believe it is possible that this war could continue for another six months without being resolved.

Speaking to The Guardian, Panetta said Washington and Tehran had reached a “terrible stalemate” with very few options for ending the war. He suggested the conflict could become “another failed war” in the region, similar to Iraq and Afghanistan.

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The United States and Iran have fallen into a terrible stalemate, in which there are really very few options available to end this war.

Panetta’s warning came days after the surprise resignation of U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, following reports of tensions with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. He said American service members were going to war amid major turmoil at the Pentagon and within its chain of command, creating the impression that “there is nobody in charge.”

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I believe that, whether it is Iran or our adversaries, they are now looking at the United States and seeing weakness in terms of our ability to really use our military power to defend our country.

He argued that Iran and other opponents were watching the United States and seeing weakness in its ability to use military power to defend the country. Panetta said the main threats included China, Russia, North Korea, terrorism and Iran. As those adversaries continued meeting and supporting one another, he said, they could regard the United States as particularly weak, calling that “a terrible message” to send at a time of serious threats.

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I believe they consider the United States particularly weak right now, and that is a terrible message to send at a time of such threats.