Former U.S. President Barack Obama stated today that the United States has found itself back at the exact same geopolitical starting point as before its military conflict with Iran, “or perhaps even a little worse,” as he mounted a staunch defense of the landmark nuclear deal brokered during his administration.
In an interview with the American television network NBC, Obama expressed deep regret that Washington remains stuck in the same position regarding Iran’s nuclear ambitions, despite the fact that the United States spent “billions of dollars, subjected the Armed Forces to tremendous pressure,” and endured a war in which “many people died.”
“It feels as though we have returned to the point we were at before the war began, though perhaps in a slightly worse position,” the former Democratic leader argued.
Obama noted that the primary “justification” for the initial military offensive was to neutralize Tehran’s nuclear aspirations. However, he pointedly highlighted that the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)—the nuclear accord signed during his presidency (2009–2017)—had successfully ensured that Iran would not develop nuclear weapons.
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“The entire international community, including Israeli intelligence services and our own intelligence agencies, agreed that this deal was working,” Obama emphasized.
He recalled that the first administration of Republican Donald Trump (2017–2021) made the unilateral decision to withdraw the U.S. from the pact, an action that subsequently cleared the path for Iran to develop a much larger and more advanced nuclear capacity.
The former president lamented that it remains entirely unclear what strategic framework Washington is currently pursuing to permanently contain the Iranian nuclear program. Consequently, he declined to draw direct comparisons between current diplomatic efforts and the agreement established under his own administration.
“I still don’t know what that plan is,” Obama stated. “So, until I see it, until there is a public document that indicates exactly what the agreement consists of, I have no way of comparing it to the plan we developed after many years of hard work.”
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Despite his criticisms, Obama emphasized that the current cessation of hostilities with Iran is undeniably positive, as it immediately alleviates the suffering of civilian populations caught in the crossfire.
“I am very happy to see a ceasefire and I hope it holds,” he affirmed. “We tend to forget that in any war, those who bear the brunt of the conflict are ordinary people—people who are simply trying to live their lives and take care of their families.”
Regarding the partial reopening of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, Obama maintained that over time, the restoration of maritime shipping “will provide some relief to ordinary people facing high gasoline and energy prices.”
The former president added that he remains cautiously expectant regarding what long-term diplomatic progress can be achieved during the 60-day truce established by the memorandum of understanding signed between the United States and Iran on June 18.
