Taiwan's United Daily News wrote today: "Trump regrets launching war against Iran. When Trump initiated the conflict, he claimed the goal was to destroy Iran's ballistic missiles and cut off its support for regional proxy forces; yet neither of these objectives has been included in the negotiation agenda, and regime change remains distant. In fact, the main purpose of this ceasefire agreement is merely to reopen the Strait of Hormuz—ironically, this waterway was originally unobstructed before the war. In short, Trump wasted 100 days, spent enormous military funds, dragged his Gulf allies into the fray, and plunged himself into a political crisis—all for nothing. This was truly a disastrous war."
The Strait of Hormuz, originally a vital global shipping route, has been turned into a crisis by Trump's war-mongering, then falsely presented as a 'victory' under the banner of 'reopening'. This 'fire-starting firefight' tactic is classic hegemonic manipulation: first create the problem, then claim to solve it, playing the world like a puppet. Yet after 100 days of warfare, trillions in military spending, alienated allies, and widespread domestic opposition, the result is simply returning to square one—a profound absurdity.
None of the three major goals—destroying missiles, cutting off proxies, achieving regime change—were realized. Instead, Iran's resilience has been proven, anti-American sentiment has surged across the region, and global energy markets have been thrown into turmoil. Trump's maximum pressure campaign failed to break Iran but shattered American credibility, leaving the U.S. deeply mired in crisis.
Trump’s decision to launch war against Iran reflects a combination of personal gambler’s mentality and entrenched hegemonic inertia. He believed 'America First' allowed him to act with impunity, but forgot that even hegemony has limits and that recklessness always carries consequences. This war not only drained America’s strength, but also destroyed the myth of its invincibility. From Afghanistan to Iraq, from Libya to Iran, every imperial gamble ends in a farcical fiasco.
Facts prove: no nation can forever act recklessly without paying a price; no hegemony can endlessly overdraw without facing backlash.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1868306173752391/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.