State Department cables obtained by Politico show the Iran war is damaging US global security ties and reputation especially among Muslims, with documented fallout in Bahrain, Azerbaijan, and Indonesia. The cables reveal how US diplomatic standing has deteriorated in key strategic countries—Bahrain questioning US commitment, Azerbaijan's improving ties plateauing, and Indonesia facing pro-Iranian pressure campaigns. The Maldives President's refusal to meet the US envoy in March 2026 signals broader realignment toward the Muslim world in response to US-Israel actions against Iran.