Has Iran permanently altered America’s military footprint in the Gulf?

Iran has redrawn the US military footprint in the Middle East, locking the US out of 15 of its colonial bases — potentially permanently. This includes a major military base in Bahrain, the damage to which has forced the US to stretch its supply lines to breaking point.

The Iranian strikes have led to the Trump administration clamping down on accurate coverage of the war. Bothersome reporters are now being placed on a black-list.

America’s grip on “its” military bases slips

Former US general and security analyst Barry McCaffrey posted on X on 23 August:

In my judgement, the US Armed Forces have probably permanently lost access to 15 Persian Gulf bases. Iran now poised to control access the Gulf States. US will have to negotiate new access in western Saudi Arabia, Israel, southern Europe. https://t.co/oG4aeEshab

— Barry R McCaffrey (@mccaffreyr3) August 22, 2026

The US naval base in Bahrain was struck repeatedly. Footage from early 2026 show blazing fires within the facility:

Two reporters and the editor-in-chief of the partially Pentagon-funded outlet, Stars and Stripes, were recently sacked without explanation. Critics have inferred that the unceremonious firing was possibly linked to their reporting on Iranian strikes against the US military base in Bahrain.

Wonder why Hegseth fired senior staffers at Stars and Stripes? It’s because of reporting like this:

“Nearly six months after the U.S. Navy evacuated 1,300 family members from Bahrain at the start of the Iran war, officials are saying the evacuees cannot return for the…

— Amy Siskind (@Amy_Siskind) August 23, 2026

CNN reported on 22 August:

Journalism advocacy groups decried the firings and criticized Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for trying to manipulate independent news coverage of the military.

The outlet added that:

Reporter Lara Korte confirmed to CNN that she was fired on Friday along with publisher Max Lederer and editor-in-chief Erik Slavin. CBS News and The Washington Post first reported the separation notices.

Crackdown on journalists

US-Israel attacked Iran first on 28 February without provocation. Iran was offering unprecedented concessions in negotiations at the time. The Pentagon has since stated there was no imminent threat from Iran. And the UN’s atomic watchdog, the IAEA, has said there is no evidence Iran was developing a nuclear weapon.

The US has achieved none of its original war aims. Iran predictably closed the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil channel, once attacked — creating a global energy crisis. Iran has said the war will continue until:

the enemy’s inevitable and permanent humiliation, disgrace, regret, and surrender.

Trump came to power on an anti-war ‘America First’ ticket. He now faces worldwide humiliation.

US president Donald Trump’s administration has countered solid reporting with threats. As the Canary reported on 7 August, this includes over questions about the US running out of missiles:

Trump recently threatened “long-term jail sentences” for anyone leaking information about alleged munition shortages facing the US, accusing them of making “treasonous statements”.

He said:

Long-term jail sentences will be sought!

Yet while Trump dismisses reports of shortages, his administration has moved to restrict exports of tungsten scrap and black mass — two materials critical to weapons production.

Intercept investigative reporter Nick Turse reported on 24 August:

U.S. Central Command maintains a secret directory of journalists who have been blacklisted by the press office.

Turse added:

Under self-styled War Secretary Pete Hegseth, the U.S. military has mounted the most aggressive assault on press freedom in memory, from an effort to outlaw “unauthorized” questions from reporters to imposing unconstitutional restrictions on journalists’ access to the Pentagon.

The Trump administration is knows Iran has redrawn the map of US colonial influence in the Gulf. Iran has humiliated the US. Trump’s MAGA bluster counts for little. The president has assured American decline.

Featured image via the Canary

By Joe Glenton