‘Iran Not Venezuela’: Ex-US NSA John Bolton Says Trump Miscalculated War

Last Updated:March 13, 2026, 12:48 IST

John Bolton, who served as Trump’s national security adviser during his first term, said the president often makes major decisions without detailed planning.

As the war between the United States, Israel and Iran continues, America is facing heavy damage both financially and in terms of weapons, while Iran has shown no signs of backing down. Amid the escalating conflict, former US Security Adviser John Bolton criticised US President Donald Trump for miscalculating the situation with Iran.

Bolton argued that Trump appeared to believe the United States could trigger a rapid regime change similar to its actions in Venezuela, but said that comparison was deeply misguided. Bolton also accused Trump of lacking long-term strategic planning in dealing with the conflict.

Speaking to India Today, Bolton said, “He may have believed that he could do a Venezuela. But if he did, he was wrong when he believed it. He’s clearly wrong today."

Iran-US-Isreal War enters day 14

Bolton’s remarks come amid rising tensions in West Asia following joint US-Israel military operations on Iran. The strikes resulted in the killing of Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei.

In response, Iran targeted Israeli and US assets across several Gulf countries. The attacks disrupted key shipping routes and affected global energy markets. The war between the US-Israel alliance and Iran entered its 13th day on Tuesday.

Bolton criticises Trump’s decision-making

Bolton, who served as Trump’s national security adviser during his first term, said the president often makes major decisions without detailed planning.

“Well, I doubt he’s prepared for it because he’s rarely prepared for much of anything. He doesn’t follow strategic thinking. He does things on impulse neuron flashes," Bolton said.

Despite criticising Trump’s approach, Bolton praised elements of the ongoing Operation Epic Fury. He said the armed forces had delivered an “outstanding" performance and that significant parts of Iran’s military capability had already been weakened.

According to Bolton, Iran’s communications and command-and-control networks have been “effectively eliminated". He said several key assets were destroyed and that the country’s air force and navy had been largely dismantled, although maritime threats in the Gulf still remain.

Trump says war is progressing well

Meanwhile, Trump said the situation involving Iran was progressing rapidly and praised the strength of the US military.

“The situation with Iran is moving along very rapidly. It’s doing very well. Our military is unsurpassed. There’s never been anything like it," Trump said.

He added that the United States was taking actions that should have been carried out decades earlier.

“We’re doing what has to be done, should have been done during a 47-year period," Trump said, while criticising the Iranian leadership and saying the country was paying a heavy price.

News world ‘Iran Not Venezuela’: Ex-US NSA John Bolton Says Trump Miscalculated War

Read More