Summary

US senator warns Trump has ‘lost control’ of war on Iran A senior US senator has raised the alarm that the United States and Israel have pushed the Middle East into a rapidly escalating crisis after launching a war on Iran, saying President Donald Trump has “lost control” of the conflict. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy delivered the warning in a series of posts on X, arguing that the war has already thrown the region in a spiral of violence. Murphy wrote, "It’s crystal clear now that Trump has lost control of this war. He badly misjudged Iran’s ability to retaliate. The region is on fire." He said the first crisis centres on the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow shipping corridor through which a more than 20 percent the world’s oil and gas supply moves through. Murphy warned that Washington underestimated Tehran’s ability to disrupt the route. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters He wrote, "Trump believed Iran would not close the Strait of Hormuz. He was wrong. And now oil prices are spiking." The senator said Iran’s use of drones, speedboats and sea mines makes the waterway extremely difficult to secure, adding that the weapons “cannot be eliminated. They are too numerous, too spread out and hidden." Murphy said escorting tankers through the strait would place US naval forces at serious risk. 'Trump blundered' The second crisis, he said, stems from the growing role of drones in modern warfare. "Iran can hit oil sites in the region indefinitely because they posses so many cheap, weaponized drones," he wrote. Murphy pointed to attacks in the Gulf that have disrupted shipping and energy production, warning that the war in Ukraine has already demonstrated how drones have transformed modern conflict. "If Trump paid any attention to the Ukraine War he would have noticed how warfare has changed. But he didn’t. And he blundered." It’s crystal clear now that Trump has lost control of this war. He badly misjudged Iran’s ability to retaliate. The region is on fire.— Chris Murphy 🟧 (@ChrisMurphyCT) March 14, 2026 1/ I’m going to explain to you in this🧵what I’ve learned - in part from closed door briefings - about the four biggest current crises. At the same time, air defence systems across the region are under strain. Israel has already warned Washington that its supply of ballistic missile interceptors is running low as the war enters its third week. Murphy said the conflict is also expanding geographically. "A broader, regional war is breaking out as Iranian proxies in Lebanon hit Israel and those in Iraq target the US.. Israel is now threatening a massive ground invasion of Lebanon, which could become its own new crisis." He warned that other fronts could soon ignite. 'Trump has no endgame' "So far, the Houthis in Yemen have been relatively quiet. Probably not for long. They can project power into the Red Sea", he said. Since the onset of the Gaza genocide in October 2023, the Houthis in retaliation closed much of that route. Murphy said Syria could also descend back into violence. "For Syria, this is the worst time for Trump to strike Iran. Syria could explode again." The final crisis, Murphy said, is the absence of any plan to end the war, noting that "Trump has no endgame. Iran and its proxies can create chaos indefinitely." He warned that a US ground invasion would bring devastating consequences saying that it "would be Armageddon" with thousands of dead Americans. Murphy said declaring victory and withdrawing would not solve the problem either. "Declare false victory? Then the new Iranian hardliners in charge just rebuild what we destroyed." He concluded by urging the administration to end the war. "All of this was totally foreseeable. Frankly, it’s why previous presidents weren’t so stupid to start a war like this." "Trump has lost control of the war. His best course now is to cut his losses and end it. That’s the only way to prevent an even bigger disaster," he said. Middle East Eye delivers independent and unrivalled coverage and analysis of the Middle East, North Africa and beyond. To learn more about republishing this content and the associated fees, please fill out this form. More about MEE can be found here.