Obama: We Wasted Billions to End Up at Square One With a Worse Iran Deal

Former U.S. President Barack Obama has criticized the recent military conflict with Iran, stating that Washington abandoned a functional nuclear agreement only to return to a weaker geopolitical position after a costly war.

Obama noted that the previous diplomatic pact had successfully prevented Tehran from developing nuclear weapons.

“There was a deal in place in which Iran had agreed not to develop nuclear weapons that the entire international community, including Israeli intelligence, our own intelligence agencies, assessed was working,” Obama told TODAY.

“This administration, or a prior version of this administration, pulled out of it, which caused then Iran to develop more nuclear capacity,” he noted.

The Costs of Conflict

The ensuing war with Iran has drained billions of dollars and placed severe strain on the U.S. military.

Obama highlighted the significant loss of life, asserting that the United States is currently in a worse position than before the conflict began.

“We've now fought a war, spent billions and billions of dollars, put enormous strain on our military. A lot of people have died,” he said.

“And it feels like we're back where we were before we started the war—except maybe a little bit worse off.”

A 14-point interim agreement established on June 17 now provides negotiators a 60-day window to formulate a comprehensive plan regarding Iran's nuclear program.

However, Obama observed that the specific details of this forthcoming strategy remain entirely unknown.

Beyond the strategic failures, Obama emphasized the profound civilian toll of the conflict.

He noted that ordinary citizens bear the primary burden of war and that a lasting halt to regional fighting is essential for their relief.

A permanent reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, he added, could eventually alleviate the high energy and gas prices currently impacting global consumers.

Diplomatic Uncertainty in Doha

Obama’s remarks coincide with a period of severe diplomatic stagnation as U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff arrive in Doha.

Qatari officials confirmed that the U.S. delegation will not hold high-level meetings with Iranian representatives this week.

Instead, technical discussions will proceed in Qatar regarding regional security and the implementation of the fragile interim pact.

The conflict, which began with U.S. and Israeli strikes on February 28, has disrupted global trade and killed thousands of people, primarily in Iran and Lebanon.

Following the outbreak of war, maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz came to a virtual standstill.

Iran has subsequently sought to exert control over the waterway, obstructing vessels and demanding transit fees.

Fragile Ceasefire Under Strain

Recent exchanges of fire have heavily tested the ceasefire agreement.

Washington accused Iran of targeting commercial ships with drones and missiles, prompting retaliatory U.S. strikes on Iranian military facilities.

In response, Tehran launched projectiles at U.S. military sites in Kuwait and Bahrain, with both sides accusing the other of violating the truce.