In 2015, the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Counsel and Germany and the European Union signed a nuclear deal with Iran that limited the latter’s production of arms-grade uranium. It was enforced with inspections by the U.N., and Iran reduced its stockpiles of enriched uranium by 97 percent. In 2018, Trump withdrew from the deal and started to apply “maximum pressure” by imposing new sanctions. Iran continued to comply with the deal until 2019, when it started to enrich uranium again.
Until a few months ago, there were no restrictions or conditions on unfettered transit by ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
Before February 28, 2026 (the beginning of the Iranian war initiated by the U.S. and Israel), the average price of gas in the U.S. was $2.98 per gallon. Last month, it was about $4.50.
The U.S. inflation rate in February 2026 was 2.4 percent; as of the end of May, it was 4.2 percent.
From 7,000 to 10,000 people have been killed as a result of the war, with an estimated 40,000 injured. In Iran, the death toll is around 3,500, with 26,500 injured, about half civilians. Thirteen U.S. military personnel have died, and 61 deaths have been reported in Israel.
The Pentagon has estimated the cost of the war to date at $29 billion, which is probably low, since the Iranian War Cost Tracker, based on Pentagon data briefed to Congress, shows total costs at $113 billion as of June 15—and climbing daily. Economic analysis by various economists and think tanks estimate that the total cost over the future—based on arms restocking, veterans’ benefits, etc.—will be between $630 billion and $1 trillion (see the Harvard Kennedy School review and analysis).
National estimates for universal preschool for all three- to five-year-olds—depending on additional benefits included—range from $40 billion to $70 billion.
A recent poll by the European Council on Foreign Relations, taken across 15 European nations, found that only 11 percent of residents believe the U.S. is an ally. Confidence and trust in America is at an all-time low and has been cut in half since 2024.
Trump recently realized that, in many ways, he has different wartime objectives and political goals than his co-belligerent Israel, stating Netanyahu had “no f*cking judgment” after Israel launched air strikes in Lebanon that Trump believed were endangering his announced, but unclear, resolution to the war. Trump said he was “pissed off” with Israel’s actions and that Israel should be grateful to him. As of today, Iran said it believed the agreement was to end total hostilities, including in Lebanon, but apparently Netanyahu doesn’t agree, nor is he a signatory to the agreement.
I guess Israel is just another ally thrown under the bus by our president. We will see if the three-party war becomes a two-party peace with Israel continuing hostilities, or if Israel’s recalcitrance will upend any agreement. It is certainly worrisome that Israel is not a party to the agreement, but no one should be surprised since they weren’t, apparently, a party to the negotiations with Pakistan and Qatar. After all, Israel is worried about Hezbollah shelling Israel from Lebanon (after they “destroyed” Hamas in Gaza, just as Trump “destroyed” Iran’s navy, missile sites, and nuclear program).
It is time for the American people to start asking serious questions about why we went to war, why the president ignored the advice of the military that clearly outlined the risks and possible scenarios, what Israel’s role was, and what Trump expected to accomplish at that time when negotiations on nuclear enrichment were ongoing.
Thousands of people are dead. The worldwide economies have been damaged by rising oil prices, and extensive damage has been inflicted on the infrastructure of many Gulf nations. GNP and international growth have slowed, inflation in the U.S. has soared, and the military and financial consequences to the nation are significant and ongoing.
We deserve answers, not platitudes that claim different war aims every day or a litany of lies about what was happening and what occurred. Do any of us think something positive happened because of Trump’s war? I doubt it.
