The recent US–Israel strikes as part of ‘Operation Epic Fury’ on Iran have reverberated across the international system, intensifying fears of a broader regional or even global conflict. Beyond the immediate military escalation, these developments reveal deeper geopolitical and geo-economic dynamics tied to Energy Control, Global Power structures, and the evolving International World Order. Analysts across the world argue that the conflict must be understood within a larger framework of Hegemonic Competition with Declining American dominance, and the struggle over strategic resources—particularly oil in the Middle East.

What initially appeared as a limited military confrontation has increasingly taken on the characteristics of a systemic geopolitical rupture. The military campaigns, diplomatic tensions, and economic consequences now unfolding extend well beyond Iran and Israel, affecting the stability of the Persian Gulf, global energy markets, and the legitimacy of the existing international order.

American War-Making Machine

Militarism has long been described by critics as a defining feature of American strategic culture. “Militarism is the US national religion; we believe in wars even when we no longer formally declare them.” Under President Donald Trump, this approach appears to combine a belief in military power with the transactional logic associated with his concept of “America First and Make America Great Again (MAGA)”. 

One of the central criticisms being raised is the erosion of constitutional procedures in the United States regarding war decisions. Under the US Constitution, the authority to declare war lies with Congress. However, in recent decades major military interventions have increasingly been initiated by the executive branch, often justified through national security doctrines rather than formal declarations. Decisions regarding military operations frequently originate within the executive establishment and the security bureaucracy, including intelligence networks such as the Central Intelligence Agency and the Department of Defense. 

The escalation against Iran illustrates this pattern. Israeli leadership had openly articulated long-standing ambitions to strike Iranian strategic infrastructure. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly stated that he had aspired for decades to confront Iran militarily. The stated justification revolves around the claim that Iran represents an existential threat to Israel due to its missile capabilities, support for regional proxy groups, and alleged pursuit of nuclear weapons.

Parallel to Israeli operations, the United States launched military actions aimed at neutralizing Iran’s missile and drone capabilities and disrupting its nuclear infrastructure. These objectives formed part of a broader strategy to eliminate Iran’s ability to threaten American allies or US military bases across the Middle East.

US has a History of Regime Change. National Endowment for Democracy (NED) created by Ronald Reagan in 1983, provided to the CIA to destabilise foreign governments. While NED’s stated mission is to support democracy, it has been involved in funding........

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