U.S. President Donald Trump in Dearborn, Michigan, January 13, 2026. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein
As President Donald Trump’s war against Iran continues to expand in scope and consequence, there is a growing sense of alarm as experts call for de-escalation. Speaking today to CNN anchor Christiane Amanpour, former U.S. diplomat Nicholas Burns didn’t mince words with his assessment, declaring, "I did not think it would come to this...it's a full-blown crisis."
Previously an ambassador to China and currently a professor of diplomacy and international relations at Harvard, Burns offered a stark appraisal of the situation in Iran.
“Look at what hasn’t happened,” he said. “Regime change has not happened and is very unlikely to happen. There’s been no unconditional surrender. The Iranians have been soundly bruised, but they’ve been fighting back asymmetrically and now you have this situation where there’s a world energy crisis. And it really is a global energy crisis.”
With 20 percent of the world's oil and gas normally passing through the now-blocked Strait of Hormuz, Burns points out that the war has disrupted supply routes that are “critical for the global economy.” With fuel prices skyrocketing, cost of living is climbing in every respect, from products to mortgage rates.
“If there continues to be a substantial energy crisis that afflicts all the leading global economies,” he said, “I would think an offramp is in order, and I think there’s a case for an offramp.”
As the U.S. announces that it’s preparing to send thousands of soldiers to the Persian Gulf, Burns expressed shock at the idea of such a dramatic escalation.
“I can’t believe that the United States would choose to put ground troops into the quicksand of the Middle East,” he said. “I don’t think that’s an option.”
For two weeks, Trump has repeatedly claimed that the war is “very complete” and will “end soon,” but the conflict has only worsened, with Israel and Iran trading strikes at key energy infrastructure. While war games experts have warned of such outcomes for years, Trump insists that “nobody” briefed him of such dire possibilities.
Now as the Middle East braces for further turmoil and the world watches prices rise, Burns delivered an admonishment for the president’s lack of foresight.
“When you start a war,” said Burns, “beware the unintended consequences of your actions.”