Ex-CIA chief Panetta: Pakistan negotiating Iran peace was 'nuts'

Leon Panetta used to be one of America's most important security leaders, running the CIA and later the US military.

Now he is talking honestly about the war between the United States and Iran.

Panetta says the war is not going well and that America's leaders made big mistakes.

One mistake was letting Pakistan talk to Iran for the US.

Panetta says leaders should sit down face to face and talk directly instead.

Another problem, he says, was Iran closing the Strait of Hormuz, a very important waterway where ships carry oil.

Closing it gave Iran power over fuel prices.

Panetta thinks America should have worked with friends to keep the waterway open.

He also says the US needed a clear plan for the war, including a clear goal and an endgame.

Without that, he worries, the fighting will not end well.