Anger over the killing of Iranian leaders has helped bring together both Sunni and Shia factions in opposition to the United States and Israel. The Iran war has unified groups across the region. Protests and attacks on Western facilities have spread across parts of the Middle East.
By Robin Davis, March 16, 2026
Geopolitical analyst Col. (ret) Wilkerson delivers a stark warning about the escalating Iran war started when Israel and the United States attacked the Islamic republic on February 28.
He says Washington has fundamentally misunderstood the conflict it started and rejects claims by U.S. President Donald Trump that Iran’s military and leadership has been crippled.
“There’s no doubt in my mind they’re lies.”
Wilkerson says Trump may either be inventing the claims himself or repeating flawed intelligence from advisers. Either way, the public narrative about the Iran war bears little resemblance to the situation on the ground.
In this interview with Nima Alkhorshid of Digital Works Col. Wilkerson explains that the central mistake made by Washington is failing to understand whom it is actually fighting.
Iran is a civilisation with thousands of years of history and a deeply rooted national identity. Such a society is unlikely to collapse under outside pressure.
“We’re dealing with a civilisation thousands of years old… and people in Washington think this is going to be a quick punishment mission.
“They have totally misjudged the nature of this conflict.”
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pushed a strategy centred on assassinating senior leaders and destabilising Iran internally — that tactic has backfired.
Instead of weakening Iran the attacks have unified groups across the region. Anger over the killing of Iranian leaders has helped bring together both Sunni and Shia factions in opposition to the United States and Israel. Protests and attacks on Western facilities have spread across parts of the Middle East.
Iranian allies such as the Houthis could once again disrupt shipping routes like the Bab el-Mandeb strait, threatening global trade flows and energy supplies. Even limited disruptions can cause oil prices to spike as insurers and shipping companies panic.
Wilkerson believes the Iran war could accelerate a broader geopolitical shift. In his view, Iran’s growing strategic ties with Russia and China could reshape the global balance of power if the war continues.
Washington’s actions are also putting a strain on its own alliances. The redeployment of missile defence systems and pressure on partners to support the war could fuel resentment in countries like South Korea and Japan.
“We are becoming an outcast empire… people whom no one is going to want to do business with.”
Wilkerson warned that U.S. policies are pushing global power toward Asia rather than preserving American influence.
There is also the risk of escalation at sea. If Iran were to sink a U.S. aircraft carrier, the consequences would be catastrophic — potentially killing thousands of sailors and dramatically expanding the war.
The Iran war is far more dangerous than many leaders appear to believe. What some in Washington may see as a short, controlled campaign could become a drawn-out regional war with global consequences.
* Lawrence B. Wilkerson is a retired United States Army Colonel and former chief of staff to United States Secretary of State Colin Powell.
Also see: Will the United States’ “First Jewish President” Destroy Iran?
Featured image: You Tube screenshot.