Trump’s Iran war has failed: Democrats

Washington, Aug 28 (IANS) A senior Democratic lawmaker on Friday accused President Donald Trump of failing to achieve his objectives in Iran, claiming that six months of conflict had left 19 American service members dead and more than 750 wounded.

Representative Adam Smith of Washington, the ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, said the war had cost tens of billions of dollars and placed severe pressure on US military personnel, weapons and equipment.

“It has been six months since Trump unilaterally launched his catastrophic war of choice against Iran and so far, he has failed to achieve any of his administration’s constantly changing strategic objectives,” Smith said.

He listed those objectives as ending Iran’s support for armed proxy groups, eliminating its ballistic missile programme, removing its highly enriched uranium and changing the country’s ruling regime.

Smith said Iran continued to destabilise the region and had gained greater negotiating leverage. He also criticised the costs associated with reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically important route for global oil shipments.

“Losses continue to accumulate, including 19 American service members killed and over 750 wounded, while thousands of innocent civilians have been killed across the region,” Smith said.

The casualty figures and financial estimates were presented by Smith’s office. The statement did not provide supporting documents or explain how the figures were calculated.

There was no immediate response from the White House or the Defence Department to Smith’s latest allegations.

The lawmaker also raised questions about an American strike on a girls’ school in Minab, Iran, during the opening days of the military campaign.

“It has also become clear that in the opening days of Trump’s war, the United States inadvertently struck a girls’ school in Minab, Iran. Over 150 people were killed, most of them children,” Smith said.

He accused the Defence Department of failing to complete its investigation into the attack and criticised congressional Republicans for not conducting sufficient oversight.

Smith said the absence of transparency following the strike could damage Washington’s standing with its allies, partners and adversaries.

The Democrat also warned that prolonged operations had placed American ships, weapons stocks and military personnel under unnecessary strain.

He said the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group had been deployed for 11 months, describing it as the longest such deployment since the Vietnam War.

The USS Abraham Lincoln had also faced several unplanned extensions before beginning its return from the Middle East, Smith said.

“Service members across all branches of the military have had to shoulder the burden of an unchecked and unprepared executive branch and the failure of congressional Republicans to do their jobs and exercise appropriate oversight of the Trump Administration,” he said.

Smith argued that Congress and the American public wanted the conflict brought to an end. He warned that continued military involvement could draw the United States into another prolonged Middle Eastern war.

The Trump administration has sharply disputed such assessments. It says its military campaign severely weakened Iran’s nuclear, ballistic missile, naval and defence capabilities and forced Tehran to negotiate from a weakened position.

The White House said in June that Trump and Vice President JD Vance had secured a memorandum of understanding with Iran.

It described the agreement as a “historic breakthrough” that would prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and reject prolonged US military involvement in the region.

The administration has said the combination of military action and economic pressure brought Tehran to the negotiating table. It has also warned that military and economic action could resume if Iran violates its commitments.

Trump launched Operation Epic Fury on March 1, describing Iran’s nuclear programme, ballistic missile arsenal and support for armed groups as threats to the United States and its allies. The White House said the operation followed unsuccessful diplomatic attempts to reach an agreement.

The United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding in June providing for an end to hostilities, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and further negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear programme. Pakistan and Qatar were among the countries involved in mediating the agreement.

–IANS

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