Trump has ‘run out of options’ in Iran war: Stephen Walt | The Bottom Line

The Trump administration’s foreign policy, characterized by erratic decision-making and a reliance on the "madman theory," has significantly diminished American global influence and credibility. Harvard international relations professor Stephen Walt argues that the ongoing conflict with Iran has devolved into a hurting stalemate, where the United States lacks clear options and has alienated allies through inconsistent trade and security policies. Furthermore, the traditionally unconditional US-Israel relationship has become a strategic liability, as domestic support for Israel erodes amid controversial rhetoric and military actions. By prioritizing short-term, self-interested maneuvers over stable, long-term strategy, the administration has squandered the nation's post-Cold War primacy. This shift accelerates a transition toward a more volatile, multipolar world order where nations increasingly hedge their bets, looking toward China as the United States retreats from its role as a reliable global leader.