The War With Iran Has Become A Moment Of Truth For American Politics
- 20.08.2026, 18:08
U.S. allies have begun seeking additional security guarantees.
The long-standing system of U.S. influence in the Middle East is facing its greatest crisis in recent decades. The war between the U.S. and Israel against Iran has revealed the limits of American military power, undermined the trust of Arab allies, and called into question the very model of regional security that Washington has been building since the 1990–1991 Gulf War, writes Foreign Affairs.
For decades, U.S. strategy has been built around supporting Israel, containing Iran and Iraq, and providing security guarantees to allies in the Persian Gulf. In return, Washington hoped to maintain its leading role in the region and gradually bring Arab states closer to Israel.
However, the war with Iran exposed the weakness of this framework. Iran was able to strike at American allies in the region, and (the closure of the Strait of Hormuz https://charter97.org/ru/news/2026/8/19/695285/) posed serious risks to trade and the economies of the Persian Gulf states. At the same time, the U.S. and Israel failed to achieve their main objective—the overthrow or removal of the Iranian regime.
“U.S. security guarantees, which formed the basis of the regional deal, no longer appear reliable,” the authors note.
The war in Gaza dealt a further blow to Washington’s position. According to the author of the Foreign Affairs article, U.S. support for Israel has virtually stripped Washington of its former moral authority in the eyes of Arab society. At the same time, Arab governments are increasingly reluctant to automatically follow the American line.
That said, the current system will not disappear overnight. The Gulf states will continue to cooperate with the U.S., and Washington will maintain a military presence in the region. However, allies are already beginning to seek additional security options—including independent diplomacy with Iran and the development of relations with China and Russia.
The authors believe that the U.S. has been given an opportunity to completely rethink its Middle East strategy. Instead of military interventions, they suggest that Washington focus on diplomacy, collective defense, and negotiations with Iran.
“The order that the U.S. has been building for decades is coming to an end, and this may be Washington’s last chance to change course,” the authors argue.
The actor also spoke about the filming of *Dazed and Confused*, a movie that left a significant mark on his acting career. According to him, director Richard Linklater created an atmosphere of genuine collaboration on set.