Trump’s Iran war is holding him hostage | Sidney Blumenthal

The Guardian US News
by Sidney Blumenthal
March 30, 2026
3 min read

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Columnist Sidney Blumenthal argues Trump's military campaign against Iran has failed and left the president politically trapped by its consequences.

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Sidney Blumenthal argues that Trump's military campaign against Iran has failed to achieve its stated objectives and has instead left the president politically trapped by the consequences of his own decision. Less than a month into what Trump called a "short-term excursion," the administration has not achieved regime change, sparked an internal uprising, or secured access to Iranian oil resources as initially framed. Blumenthal contends that a failed assassination attempt on Iran's leadership exposed Trump to criticism for launching what he characterizes as a reckless military venture. The columnist suggests Trump is now caught attempting to justify the initial military decision while struggling to manage its fallout. Iran reportedly maintains strategic control over regional shipping lanes, leaving Trump without the geopolitical gains he had sought.

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