Former U.S. President Barack Obama has said the current situation in the United States is worse than it was before the start of the Iran war. In an interview with NBC News ahead of the inauguration of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago on Friday, he expressed concern over the heavy costs of the conflict, including billions of dollars spent, pressure on the military, and loss of lives, while achieving no tangible results.

Obama criticized the Trump administration’s withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the JCPOA, arguing that it allowed Iran to expand its nuclear capabilities. Meanwhile, U.S. Vice President JD Vance claimed that the peace plan has weakened Iran’s conventional military power and reduced fuel prices, though his postponed trip to Switzerland has created uncertainty over new talks. Iran’s chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that Tehran’s red lines must be respected in any future negotiations.

Oil transport disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have raised global market concerns, with ExxonMobil’s senior vice president Neil Chapman warning that prices could rise to $150–160 per barrel if strategic reserves fall critically low.