Trump team faces 'buyer's remorse' over war on Iran: report
A new report says some advisers fear the White House underestimated Tehran’s resilience and the risk of a prolonged conflict.
Some members of US President Donald Trump’s inner circle are privately expressing “buyer’s remorse” over the decision to go to war with Iran, amid growing concern the administration misjudged the country’s ability to withstand the assault, according to a report by Axios.
Monday’s report said several senior officials had initially urged caution or asked for more time before launching the military campaign alongside Israel, but Trump ultimately dismissed their concerns. One source said the president pushed ahead with the operation, telling advisers: “I just want to do it.”
According to the report, Trump was buoyed by recent military successes — including earlier strikes on Iran and the abduction of Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela — which may have led him to overestimate how easily the Iranian government could be destabilised without deploying ground troops.
One source described the president as “high on his own supply,” suggesting confidence in previous operations influenced the decision to escalate the conflict.
Escalation trap in Gulf
The report also warns the administration may now be caught in what analysts call an “escalation trap,” where a militarily stronger side feels compelled to keep striking to maintain dominance even as strategic gains diminish.
The standoff has increasingly centred on the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy chokepoint through which roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil supply normally passes.
Iranian threats and attacks on shipping in the waterway have disrupted traffic and pushed oil prices higher, deepening the global economic impact of the war.
A senior US official told Axios that Iranian interference with the strait has hardened Trump’s stance rather than prompting reconsideration, making him “more dug in” on continuing the campaign.
War may last longer than planned
When the strikes began on February 28, the White House expected a relatively short campaign lasting four to six weeks.
But officials in Washington and allied capitals are now preparing for a longer confrontation, with some sources telling Axios that US involvement could extend until September, even if the conflict shifts to a lower-intensity phase.
The war has already taken a heavy toll. Around 1,300 people have reportedly been killed in Iran since the strikes began, including the country’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei, while at least 14 US service members have died during the offensive.
Despite the internal doubts, the White House continues to argue that the offensive is weakening Iran’s military capabilities and advancing US strategic objectives in the region.