Editorial
The recent escalation between Iran and Israel—joined midway by the United States—has ended in a tenuous ceasefire, but not with the strategic victory Washington and Tel Aviv had anticipated. Despite the dramatic rhetoric of “obliteration” from President Donald Trump and the Israeli leadership, facts on the ground point to a different reality: Iran remains standing—politically, militarily, and strategically.
The U.S. airstrikes, aimed at dismantling Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, fell short of their declared objectives. A preliminary intelligence assessment by the Defense Intelligence Agency suggests that the strikes only temporarily disrupted Iran’s nuclear program, setting it back by a few months at most. Most of the nuclear assets, buried deep underground, remained intact. Trump’s claims of total destruction were swiftly undermined by this report, revealing a gap between political posturing and operational success.
Israel, too, suffered a strategic setback. While it managed to deliver substantial damage to Iranian military targets and killed high-ranking commanders, it failed to neutralize Iran’s missile capabilities. For the first time, Israeli air defenses were penetrated by sustained missile attacks from Iran, resulting in civilian casualties and psychological disruption within Israel itself.
The ceasefire, brokered under U.S. pressure, seemed more a necessity than a negotiated triumph. Trump’s frustration, even with Israel, was evident as he publicly chastised both parties. The fact that both Iran and Israel took hours to acknowledge the truce—and accused each other of violating it—reflects the fragility of this pause in hostilities.
What emerges from this conflict is a sobering truth: military might alone cannot dictate terms in a deeply entrenched geopolitical rivalry. Both the U.S. and Israel misjudged Iran’s resilience. Far from being dismantled, Iran now stands emboldened, claiming a “great victory,” with regional influence intact.
This episode signals a recalibration of power dynamics in the region. The days of unilateral dominance appear to be fading.
