Obama Admits US Is 'Worse Off' After 100-Day War with Iran — $53 Billion in Gas Costs
Former President Barack Obama says the United States is worse off now than before it went to war with Iran, as new data shows American consumers have paid an extra $53 billion in higher gas prices during the conflict.
The United States and Iran have signed a memorandum of understanding to end their conflict after more than 100 days of war, according to a document published in full by Le Monde [176873]. The basic framework for peace will be followed by further negotiations to resolve issues not covered in the agreement [176873].
Former President Barack Obama said the United States is “worse off” now than before it went to war with Iran in February. In an interview with NBC News, Obama stated that after 15 weeks of fighting, the US has spent billions of dollars, put “enormous strain” on its military, and lost many lives. “It feels like we’re back where we were before we started the war, except maybe a little bit worse off,” Obama said [177059].
The financial toll on American households has been severe. The cost to US consumers reached an extra $53 billion in higher gas prices, according to recent data, as the Strait of Hormuz — a critical shipping route for about 20% of the world’s oil — was disrupted during the conflict [176711][174407]. President Donald Trump warned that continued conflict could lead to an “economic catastrophe” as emergency oil reserves run low [176711].
Vali Nasr, a former adviser to the US State Department and now a professor at Johns Hopkins University, called the outcome “definitely not favourable to Israel” and “a major setback for the United States and a major gain for Iran.” Nasr said the Islamic Republic is emerging from the conflict “more confident, more self-assured and stronger” than before, both at home and in the region [176169].
Despite declaring victory, Iran’s military capabilities have been degraded. Debris from Iranian missile launches during the conflict with Israel fell near the Syrian town of Najha, highlighting the reach of Iran’s operations. Analysts are assessing what assets Tehran still holds, including its missile systems, drone fleet, and proxy forces [171760]. According to Alain Frachon, a columnist for Le Monde, internal divisions may surface in the coming months, and the root causes of anti-regime uprisings in the country have not disappeared [176882].
The war has also strained US alliances. Some allies are now asking whether supporting the American war machine is still worth the risk, with analysts calling the conflict an early sign of “superpower suicide” — a powerful nation taking actions that weaken its own global standing and economic stability [176807].
Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group, has declared the US-Iran peace deal a “great victory.” However, the terms of the agreement do not directly address Hezbollah’s weapons or its role in regional conflicts, and the group’s claim may be more about public morale than concrete results [176893].