Former U.S. Saudi Ambassador Chas W. Freeman said President Donald Trump's war with Iran was a great mistake that served Israel's expansionist agenda while strengthening Iran's strategic position.
"The war was a great mistake," Freeman said during an interview with Mario Nawfal. He argued the conflict was undertaken by Trump in response to guidance from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "It serves an Israeli agenda, which is the removal of Iran as an obstacle to the expansion of Israel's borders."
Freeman claimed American objectives have been unclear and inconsistent, ranging from destroying Iran's nuclear program to regime change. He said Trump lacks understanding of foreign affairs and is surrounded by incompetent sycophants who fail to correct him.
According to Freeman, Israel's objective in the war has been to collapse the Iranian state and remove Iran as an obstacle to expanding Israel's borders. This contrasts with what he described as confused American war aims.
Despite the conflict, Freeman argued Iran has achieved many objectives. He said Iran now controls the Strait of Hormuz, and that the American blockade actually reinforces Iran's pressure on the global economy. "The strait cannot be opened by the use of force," Freeman said.
The war has depleted American air defenses and military capabilities, leaving the United States worse off than before the conflict began, Freeman claimed. This military depletion represents a significant strategic setback for American power projection capabilities.
Freeman said Iran's actions set a precedent that could encourage China to take similar control of the Taiwan Strait. He argued that war game simulations show the United States losing two-thirds of its air force and navy in a Taiwan conflict scenario.
The former ambassador predicted the conflict will accelerate nuclear proliferation across the region. "There will be an Iranian nuclear bomb and when there is, there will be a nuclear bomb in Egypt, in Turkey, in Saudi Arabia," he said.
According to Freeman, China's economic and military advantages present additional challenges. He claimed China produces over one-third of the world's goods and leads in renewable energy production, electric vehicles, and shipbuilding capacity that is 270 times larger than the United States.
Freeman said Gulf Arab states were not consulted about the war or American counter-blockade. He argued this demonstrates US indifference to their interests and regional stability concerns.
According to Freeman's analysis, the nature of warfare has fundamentally changed with satellites and drones. He contended these technological shifts allow middle-ranking powers like Iran to stand up to superpowers in ways previously impossible.
