'Naive' Trump May Have Missed to Consider Iran Conflict Could Cause 'Immense Oil Crisis', ex-CIA Director Says

The global energy market is under significant pressure as the military confrontation between the United States and Iran intensifies. Former CIA Director Leon Panetta has issued a sharp critique of President Donald Trump's handling of the escalating crisis, suggesting the administration failed to grasp the economic consequences of a prolonged conflict.

With the Strait of Hormuz effectively blocked and threats of infrastructure destruction mounting, the world faces a supply shock that could redefine modern geopolitics. Panetta, who also served as US Secretary of Defence under President Barack Obama, expressed deep concern over the lack of a coherent long-term strategy in Washington in relation to the current administration's tactical approach.

Panetta: Trump Was 'Naive' About Strait of Hormuz Risk

In a recent interview, Panetta weighed in on the global consequences of the US-Iran conflict, saying Trump 'tends to be naive about how things can happen.' He was referring to the outcome after Israel and the United States attacked Iran, prompting Tehran to close the Strait of Hormuz, the world's most important energy chokepoint, through which approximately 20% of global daily oil supply passes.

Panetta said the president should have anticipated that 'if you're going to conduct a war with Iran, one of the great vulnerabilities is the strait of Hormuz, and [it] could create an immense oil crisis that could drive the price of fuel sky-high.'

'In every national security council I've been a part of where we've talked about Iran, that subject always came up,' Panetta said. 'For some reason, either they didn't consider that could be a consequence or they thought the war would end quickly and they wouldn't have to worry about that.'

Panetta added that the president now needs to secure a ceasefire, but that this remains unlikely while Iran 'is holding the gun of the Strait of Hormuz against his head.'

The 48-Hour Ultimatum

Tensions reached a boiling point late on Saturday when President Trump issued a final 48-hour deadline for Iran to fully open the Strait of Hormuz, threatening to 'obliterate' Iranian power plants if tanker traffic was not restored by Monday night. The ultimatum was intended to break the blockade that has halted nearly a fifth of the world's daily oil supply.

Tehran has remained unswayed, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issuing a defiant counter-warning that it would 'completely close' the waterway and target regional US-linked energy and desalination plants in response to any American strike. The cycle of threats has sent Brent crude prices soaring as global markets prepare for the possibility of a total maritime shutdown.

From the Attack on Tehran to the Drone Threat in California

The current hostilities trace back to 28 February 2026, when a coordinated US and Israeli offensive targeted major leadership and military sites across Iran. The operation, dubbed 'Epic Fury' by Washington, resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and several high-ranking generals. Iran retaliated almost immediately, launching swarms of ballistic missiles toward Jerusalem and American military bases across the Middle East.

The threat has since extended to the American mainland. The FBI issued a warning to local police regarding a potential 'surprise attack' using unmanned aerial vehicles off the coast of California. As the conflict enters its fourth week, the international community continues to call for a return to the negotiating table, with the surge in global oil prices intensifying calls for a swift resolution to stabilise energy markets.