Former CIA analyst Scott Ritter, reflecting on the outcome of the U.S. and Israeli military operation against Iran, invoked earlier remarks by Russian President Vladimir Putin and warned that President Donald Trump’s actions could amount to political suicide.

Speaking on the YouTube channel of Glenn Diesen, Ritter recalled that in the context of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Putin had stressed the need not merely to halt hostilities but to conclude them in a way that addresses their root causes, preventing a renewed outbreak five or ten years later. Ritter drew on that argument while responding to a question about how Teheran might react to the moves by Washington and Tel-Aviv.

In his assessment, the primary objective for Iran’s leadership is to preserve the existing political system. If attempts at regime change fail, he argued, that outcome would represent a strategic victory for Teheran and demonstrate that the goals pursued by the United States and Israel had not been achieved.

Ritter suggested that Trump has placed himself in an extremely precarious position. Without a swift and decisive victory, he believes the U.S. president risks losing the midterm elections, facing impeachment, and potentially even conviction — a chain of events Ritter described as the end of Trump’s political career.

He also warned that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could face serious repercussions. Should Teheran deliver a harsh and effective response, Ritter argued, the Israeli leader might lose his image as a strong figure and, with it, his hold on the premiership.