Afrasianet - Politico has revealed diplomatic cables obtained by the State Department showing that a war with Iran is damaging the United States, jeopardizing its global security ties and damaging its reputation.
A report by the website titled "Diplomatic Telegrams Showing War with Iran Is Harming the United States on Multiple Fronts Around the World" provided a disturbing picture of the repercussions of the war with Iran on U.S. influence globally, based on domestic diplomatic cables revealing a growing erosion of the U.S. image and relations, especially in countries of strategic importance or with a Muslim majority.
The report explained that the damage is not limited to the military or security aspect, but extends strongly to the "media battlefield", where the United States appears to be in a weak defensive position in the face of pro-Iran campaigns that are flexible and quickly deployed, especially through digital platforms.
The cables suggest that U.S. embassies are constrained by instructions limiting their ability to produce independent content, making them reliant on slow official messaging that does not keep pace with the momentum of Iranian rhetoric.
Some of the cables describe anti-American sentiment with immediate effects, while others warn that relations could become in jeopardy if the war drags on for longer, and paint a picture of countries where the United States is losing the trust of the people, and perhaps governments, as well.
The damage is not limited to the military or security aspect, but also extends strongly to the "media battlefield," where the United States appears to be on the defensive in the face of pro-Iran campaigns that are flexible and quickly deployed, especially through digital platforms.
In Bahrain, Washington's traditional ally, the cables reveal growing public skepticism about the U.S. commitment to the kingdom's security, under the impression that it is more focused on protecting Israel than protecting its Gulf allies.
In Azerbaijan, the documents suggest that the war threatens recent diplomatic gains, especially after improved relations following peace efforts between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and local media began to blame the United States for the escalation, with growing criticism of the lack of a clear strategy.
Although the temporary ceasefire has eased tensions, the public mood remains fragile and vulnerable to shifting.
In Indonesia, the concerns are even more pronounced, as the largest Muslim-majority country, and the cables have spotted an organized Iranian campaign targeting public opinion through a religious and political discourse that combines Islamic solidarity with anti-colonial narratives.
According to the report, this campaign has succeeded in achieving remarkable reach and engagement, increasing the pressure on the political leadership, especially President Prabowo Subianto, who may find himself forced to reconsider the level of security cooperation with the United States if public pressure escalates.
The report pointed to an internal dimension within U.S. diplomacy, as the cables reveal a state of caution among diplomats under President Donald Trump's administration, due to the marginalization of their role in decision-making and the focus on political loyalty.
Politico asserts that the sending of these cables indicates a deterioration of the situation, as many diplomats have become reluctant to express their views in a climate where warnings have come in an indirect form, but at the same time reflect a real concern about the deterioration of the situation.
The report concludes that the decline of US soft power is significant, not due to a lack of capabilities, but rather as a result of a slow response and lack of flexibility in the face of an adversary that is good at using modern tools of influence. As the war continues, the greatest danger appears not only to its military consequences, but also to the long-term effects it could have on the image of the United States and its network of alliances, especially in the Muslim world.
