US President Donald Trump launched the war on Iran under the pretext of an “excursion” that he claimed would last only a few weeks. Six months later, the war has developed into a crisis whose consequences are being felt far beyond West Asia.

According to a CNN report, the war has inflicted severe costs on the Iranian people, populations across the region and consumers worldwide facing higher prices. At the same time, Trump's original objectives remain unmet, despite repeated changes in Washington's demands.

The administration initially called for Iran's complete surrender, regime change and the abandonment of its nuclear ambitions. Its more recent priorities have centered on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and restricting Tehran's peaceful nuclear program.

CNN noted that the consequences of the war on Iran extend into global security and US military readiness, while potentially creating openings for Washington's rivals. As the Trump administration concentrates on the war, attention and resources have increasingly been diverted from other potential flashpoints, including Ukraine, the Korean Peninsula, Taiwan and the South China Sea.

Emily Harding, vice president of the Defense and Security Department at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told CNN that none of these potential crises has yet reached the point of becoming a full-scale conflict, but the weakening of US military foundations could create vulnerabilities.

“This is the kind of thing where the global adversaries are going to be taking note of the situation and learning more about how the US reacts in certain moments and then folding that into their planning. But we haven’t seen anybody take advantage of it yet,” she said.

“It’s more that some foundations are being weakened, not that we’re actually seeing the building start to shake.”

Source:Websites