Afrasianet - Raed Salha - U.S. President Donald Trump's administration is facing a growing wave of criticism after the United States resumed its military strikes against Iran, amid fears that the truce could collapse and return to an open confrontation between Washington and Tehran.
The new escalation came after the US Central Command announced additional strikes on Iran, following Washington's accusation that Tehran was behind attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital corridor for global oil traffic.
American podcaster Joe Rogan said that President Trump may have "messed it up" by igniting a new military confrontation with Iran, noting that war was not among the priorities on which Americans elected Trump.
Rogan added during his popular show "The Joe Rogan Experience" that most Americans do not want a new war, and that one of Trump's main promises during his election campaign was to stay away from foreign wars.
"We may have messed it up by going to Iran," he said, adding that "this war is not something that any conservative would have wanted," and that many in the United States are shocked by the prospect of the country entering a new war.
He noted that supporters of the war within the United States are a small segment, saying that most Americans expected Trump to pursue a policy that would reduce foreign military interventions.
Conservative media figures, including Tucker Carlson, Megan Kelly and Matt Walsh, have previously been sharply critical of the decision to go to war, accusing Trump of being drawn into a military confrontation with Iran under the influence of Israel-related considerations, warning that the United States could bear the cost of a war that does not serve its immediate interests The military developments came at a time when Trump made tough statements toward Iran, declaring that the ceasefire agreement reached through a memorandum of understanding last month was "over."
But Trump has also sent less escalating messages, saying he does not believe war will break out again, that any new confrontation will be short-lived, and that he is open to continuing contacts and negotiations with Iranian officials.
The military operations came in response to what they described as "unprovoked aggression" against commercial vessels and civilian crews using an important international waterway.But analysts warned that continued escalation could lead to an expansion of the war, especially given the importance of the Strait of Hormuz, through which a large proportion of global oil exports pass.
Trump's critics say any significant rise in energy or basic materials prices could become a political burden for the administration, especially if the standoff drags on.Democratic and independent lawmakers have attacked Trump's decision to resume military operations.
Senator Bernie Sanders said Trump, after bringing the United States into a war with Iran, has redeclared the ceasefire over, asserting that "the war will be reinstated."
Reckless with Iran will not make America stronger, it will cost more lives and waste more taxpayer money."
The House of Representatives passed a war powers resolution aimed at limiting Trump's ability to continue the war with Iran without congressional approval, and the Senate passed a similar measure before it was later blocked by internal Republican opposition.
Speaker of the Iranian parliament Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said that Washington has violated the agreement by reimposing sanctions on Iran's oil exports and carrying out attacks inside Iran, in addition to continuing what he described as "Israeli aggression."
While some of Trump's allies are calling for continued military pressure, other voices warn that any attempt to achieve a "complete victory" over Iran could be very costly, politically, militarily, and economically.
