Media review; French political analyst answers the question: is this "worst American decision since World War II"

If the metric for the "worst American decision since World War II" is the sheer scale of damage to US prestige, the erosion of its deterrence, and the voluntary handover of global influence to its rivals, then the Trump administration’s handling of the war with Iran stands as a historic failure. According to French political analyst Pierre Haski, the United States was dragged into a senseless, horizonless conflict, transformed into a superpower flailing in what resembled a "barroom brawl"—striking without a clear objective and utterly clueless about how to end the fight.

This is the story of how that war unfolded, and how it reshaped the American political and economic landscape.

Chapter 1: The "Versailles Disaster" and the Political Backlash

The first crack in the American facade appeared in the halls of European diplomacy. In a rush to claim a superficial victory, the US administration signed a hastily drafted "memorandum of understanding" in Versailles. In exchange for vague, unenforceable promises from Tehran to keep the Strait of Hormuz open and a two-month window for nuclear negotiations that were never honored, Washington willingly relinquished billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets.

Political Implication: Domestically, the move sparked bipartisan outrage. Political opponents seized on the naivety of the deal, framing it as a catastrophic surrender. The agreement did nothing to resolve the crisis; instead, it projected an image of a superpower signing treaties "not worth the ink they are written with." In Tehran, the miscalculation empowered the most hardline factions, who now viewed the United States as a paper tiger, fundamentally undermining US diplomatic leverage for years to come.

Chapter 2: The Economic Boomerang and the Chinese Wall

For decades, the cornerstone of US foreign policy was the weaponization of its economy through unilateral sanctions. However, the war on Iran exposed the limits of this power. When Washington threatened to impose crippling sanctions on any nation purchasing Iranian oil, it collided head-on with a wall of Chinese defiance.

Beijing, recognizing that the US actions lacked the legitimacy of a UN Security Council mandate, flatly refused to comply. Worse, fearing a devastating, open economic confrontation with China just ahead of a critical state visit by President Xi Jinping, the US administration blinked. It retreated, quietly failing to penalize major Chinese financial institutions.

Economic Implication: This capitulation sent shockwaves through Wall Street and global markets. It revealed to the world the stark limitations of American power when challenged by a true economic peer. The dollar’s unquestioned dominance was suddenly scrutinized, energy markets remained volatile, and the long-held myth of the US’s ability to unilaterally dictate global economic behavior was permanently shattered.

Chapter 3: Geopolitical Isolation and the Rise of Rival Alliances

As Washington fumbled, its rivals capitalized. The US found itself increasingly isolated on the world stage, inadvertently unifying its adversaries. Russia and China astutely exploited American hesitation by inviting Iran to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) as a full member during a summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

Political Implication: In a stark display of shifting global power, the Iranian president sat as an equal not only with America’s staunchest rivals but also with its supposed allies, such as Turkey and India. The ultimate diplomatic humiliation came in the summit’s final communiqué, which formally offered condolences for an Iranian leader killed by US missiles. This was an unprecedented, collective international condemnation of Washington, signaling to the American public and the world that the era of US unipolarity was rapidly drawing to a close.

Chapter 4: The Military Quagmire and the Missing Exit Strategy

Militarily, the conflict proved the golden rule of warfare: "Starting a war is far easier than ending it." The administration relied heavily on air power, bombing targets in the hope of forcing submission. However, these strikes resulted in tragic civilian casualties, including a widely condemned bombing of a wedding, and sparked massive anti-war protests across American cities.

Despite threats of extreme escalation, the US discovered too late that regime change or total subjugation cannot be achieved from the air. Meanwhile, the Iranian regime framed its mere survival as a historic, triumphant victory.

Political Implication: Back in Washington, the political landscape was deeply fractured. The administration found itself trapped, unable to find a face-saving exit or confidently declare "mission accomplished" as predecessors had. Congress became gridlocked in bitter debates over endless war funding, while the public’s trust in the military-industrial complex and executive decision-making reached historic lows.

Epilogue: The Legacy of a Strategic Sin

As Pierre Haski concluded, the decisions made in Washington regarding Iran were not mere tactical errors. They constituted a "strategic sin."

For the US economy, it meant the end of the illusion of infallible, deterrent economic sanctions and a accelerated push by rival nations to de-dollarize global trade. For US politics, it left a deeply polarized nation grappling with a diminished global role, a weakened executive branch, and a haunting reminder that military might and economic threats are no longer enough to dictate the terms of the 21st-century world order. The war on Iran did not just drain American resources; it drained American credibility.