Billions Burned, Zero Wins: Trump's Iran Fiasco

Trump's brazenness in refusing to admit defeat is, admittedly, a cut above the rest.

News broke the morning of June 15th that the US and Iran will sign a Memorandum of Understanding on Friday, 19^th of June, ending this absurd war. Trump gained nothing. He should have been left red-faced. Instead, he took to social media with characteristic swagger to declare himself the first American president to bring peace to the region — and claimed victory. Clear-eyed observers tallying up his original campaign objectives find that most were never achieved. Five goals missed in their entirety.

For this pointless war, Trump burned through hundreds of billions of dollars, depleted vast stockpiles of advanced weaponry, and watched his approval ratings plummet. By any measure, this was a "failed deal." Iran, for its part, outlasted America through a war of attrition — prevailing against a far stronger foe through sheer resilience, and emerging as the ultimate winner.

Trump failed all five Iran goals, yet shamelessly declares himself the Middle East peacemaker.

The full text of the US–Iran agreement will only be released after the formal signing. Iranian media has already leaked the document's 14 points, and the contents are not expected to change significantly. At least five of them directly contradict Trump's original objectives. When you tally up the final score, it couldn't be clearer who won and who lost.

Goal One: Regime Change

At the outset of the US–Israeli campaign, the plan was to use overwhelming force in a lightning strike — to "decapitate" Supreme Leader Khamenei and topple the government in one blow, replacing it with a pro-American puppet regime. That vision collapsed entirely. The Iranian government stands firm as a rock. Any pro-American administration remains a pipe dream.

The forthcoming MOU includes a clause in which the US pledges not to interfere in Iran's internal affairs and to respect the sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran. In plain terms: Washington may no longer pursue regime change. The original conspiracy has come to nothing.

Goal Two: Destroying Iran's Military Capability

At the war's outset, Trump and Netanyahu were riding high, overestimating the combined might of US and Israeli forces. They believed they could completely destroy Iran's missiles, drones, military-industrial production, and naval power — rendering it utterly defenseless and at their mercy. This goal, again has not been   achieved.

According to US military assessments, Iran has retained 70% of its pre-war missile stockpile, still possesses thousands of drones, and its naval attack boats remain a pervasive presence throughout the Strait of Hormuz. Trump's repeated claims that Iran's military has been entirely destroyed are nothing but hot air.

The MOU stipulates that Iran's missile program will be excluded from the agenda during the 60-day negotiation period. Iran may therefore continue to retain and produce missiles. Trump's plan to defang Iran has essentially failed.

Goal Three: Retaking the Strait of Hormuz

After Iran seized control of the Strait of Hormuz, Trump set his sights on recapturing it by force. He knew well that this chokepoint — through which 20% of global oil exports flow — was the real prize of the conflict. But seizing the strait proved far too difficult and far too risky. Left with no viable option, Trump was compelled to accept Iran's continued control of the waterway.

On the question of who controls Hormuz, the MOU states: the Strait will be reopened within 30 days, under arrangements made by Iran. The critical phrase is "under arrangements made by Iran." Washington has effectively acknowledged Iranian management of the strait. As a senior State Department official from the Biden era remarked: this is a major concession by Trump to Iran.

Goal Four: Dismantling Iran's Nuclear Program

Trump's foremost objective in launching this war was the complete destruction of Iran's nuclear capability — removing enriched uranium, banning all enrichment activities, and eliminating the nuclear threat to the region. Towards the end of the negotiations, he even entertained the idea of sending special forces on a raid into Iran to seize the enriched uranium by force.

But the preliminary agreement tells a very different story. Within 60 days of signing, both sides will work towards a final agreement on the management of enriched uranium and enrichment activities. Iran has reiterated only that it will not develop nuclear weapons — not that it will stop enriching.

Recent reports indicate that the US has agreed to allow Iran to dilute uranium on its own soil rather than transferring it abroad. Compared with Trump's original demands, the gap is enormous. Iran has clearly won this round — and one imagines Netanyahu is absolutely furious.

Goal Five: Lifting Sanctions and Unfreezing Assets

Trump had long relied on freezing Iran's $24 billion in assets and maintaining long-term sanctions as economic strangleholds to try bringing Tehran to its knees. After this war, that leverage is gone.

Under the MOU, both sides have agreed to gradually unfreeze the $24 billion in assets during the negotiation period, with half handed over to Iran before talks formally begin. Sanctions on Iranian oil, petrochemical, and related product sales will be suspended. Iran will be permitted full access to the associated financial revenues.

Trump's willingness to "let Iran off the hook" on this front was clearly driven by necessity. Ever the businessman, he saw the situation deteriorating and wanted out as quickly as possible — cutting his losses and quietly folding. He may also have a separate calculation in mind: positioning himself to profit from Iran's future reconstruction.

Trump has always fancied himself the "King of the Deal." In this Iran campaign, every calculation, every plan, every move was wrong from start to finish. After burning through hundreds of billions of dollars, he ends up empty-handed — his credibility and his dignity in tatters.

Most damaging of all, America has paid a steep price for this misadventure. Its hollow strength has been laid bare for the world to see. It has forfeited the trust of many allies. This was a crushing defeat — and it may well mark the inflection point in the decline of this superpower.

Iran outlasted the US alliance, leaving Trump a colossal bill and a shattered reputation.

Lai Ting-yiu

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"Color revolutions" have long been an American specialty. Many countries have been thrown into turmoil and suffered greatly because of them. Yet history has a way of turning the tables. Albania has now erupted in a "Flamingo Revolution." Tens of thousands have taken to the streets to protest what they call American "economic hegemony." 

The movement targets Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, and the anger is fast spreading to Prime Minister Edi Rama, Trump’s close political ally. Protesters want the government brought down. 

The uprising has also exposed Kushner's disturbing track record. He allegedly attempted an illegal land grab in Serbia to build a "Trump International Hotel." Critics argue this reveals the ugly face of American influence. Although Kushner eventually dropped the development, Anti-American "color revolutions" may now be on the verge of spreading far and wide.

Albania's "Flamingo Revolution" puts Jared Kushner in the crosshairs — accused of using American muscle to seize land.

What began as a small environmental protest soon snowballed. This crisis began as a nonpolitical environmental protest against a real estate project for damaging local nature. But it has rapidly escalated. Once word spread that Trump's son-in-law was the project's biggest backer — and that he had transplanted Trump-style money politics into Albania, with suspiciously open ties to Prime Minister Rama — public fury ignited beyond control.

Kushner and the Trump family made their fortunes in real estate. Immersed in that environment, Kushner is portrayed as having inherited a willingness to pursue profit at all costs. The current controversy traces back to 2021, when he and his wife Ivanka Trump traveled to Albania. They sailed near Sazan Island along the country's southeastern coast and were captivated by the untouched natural scenery. A luxury resort idea was born on the spot.

Kushner and Ivanka: profit over everything — even another country's natural environment.

At another yacht gathering, Kushner met Prime Minister Rama alongside several local tycoons. He pitched a plan to transform the area into a large-scale luxury resort and pledged substantial investment. Rama saw lucrative prospects and quickly showed interest.

Kushner is not short of capital. In recent years he established private equity funds in the Middle East and, with Trump's backing, reportedly raised over $3 billion — primarily from sovereign wealth funds in Gulf states.

Armed with deep pockets, Kushner partnered with Albanian business elites. In 2024, he submitted a proposal for a coastal mega-resort, with total investment reaching 4 billion euros — approximately HKD 36.1 billion. Eyeing the massive rewards, Prime Minister Rama fast-tracked the project, clearing every obstacle and rubber-stamping approval at speed.

The plan immediately alarmed environmental groups and local residents. The target area contains pristine beaches and wetlands, serving as habitat for around 70 endangered bird species — including the iconic flamingo — as well as seals and sea turtles. Large-scale construction would severely damage the ecosystem. Scattered protests began almost immediately.

By late May, developers erected fences around protected zones, barring public entry, and brought in bulldozers to begin construction. Environmentalists and residents flooded in. As more people learned that Trump's son-in-law was the project's chief backer, anti-American and anti-Trump sentiments surged. The protest fire spread fast, driving angry crowds into the streets.

Further allegations about Kushner then surfaced. In 2025, he had pursued another real estate project in Serbia. Through high-level government connections, he reportedly secured prime land in the capital to build a six-star "Trump International Hotel". The government fast-tracked approval. But the deal was caught up in a corruption investigation involving officials, prompting Kushner to withdraw.

As the scandals linking the Albanian government with Kushner continued to unfold, street protests escalated. Organizers named the movement the "Flamingo Revolution," adopting the flamingo as its symbol. They deliberately echoed earlier uprisings like the "Rose Revolution" and the "Tulip Revolution" — with one critical difference: those movements targeted anti-American regimes, while this one points squarely in the opposite direction.

The protests target not only corrupt authorities but also what participants describe as the Trump family's "economic hegemony." The reality is that Kushner and Trump never shed their real estate developer instincts. Their minds run on profit calculations — proposing luxury housing and seaside resorts in Gaza to cash in on the conflict, and eyeing land in Greenland for large-scale development.

The "Flamingo Revolution" is still gathering momentum, and the movement continues to escalate. If Trump and his family keep aggressively pursuing profit abroad, similar anti-American "color revolutions" will erupt in more countries.

Karma has a long memory. The very nation that perfected the art of toppling governments may now find itself on the receiving end.