Over the past month, events in the region have escalated and expanded significantly, as Israel and the United States attempt to establish new control and balances after two and a half years of continuous wars and unrest. After calming the conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon, Iran and Yemen, attention has turned to reaping the benefits, and Iran has become the target. It remains a significant opposing force to Washington and Israel’s regional policies, without having been decisively defeated. The United States and Israel are threatening to launch a new war against it if it does not agree to their demands. These demands revolve around halting Iran’s nuclear program, ballistic missile development, and its support for armed regional groups.

Over the past month, the protagonists and negotiating parties have been pressing hard, each trying to secure the best possible outcome in what appears to be a decisive battle. Analyses vary on the likelihood of a powerful US military strike against Iran that would completely dismantle the Islamic Republic, thus eliminating the Iranian opposition front at its roots, or an agreement with Iran that would neutralise its threat for years to come. Israel makes no secret of its desire to eradicate the Iranian regime and favours a devastating US war against Iran. Israel is not in favour of the diplomatic and negotiating track initiated earlier this month between Washington and Tehran. It insists on decisive results on the three issues related to the nuclear program, ballistic missiles, and Iran’s support for its allies, a demand that seems difficult to fulfil. Disarming Tehran of its conventional missile arsenal, which it has been developing since its war with Iraq, is a daunting prospect, especially in a region surrounded by traditional rivals. While Trump made no secret of his desire to overthrow the Iranian regime and supported the protests that intensified last month against it, the regime’s resilience, its survival, and the results that reflect the failure of relying on that approach have paved the way for Washington’s next attempt.

The cost of the devastating wars waged by Washington on Afghanistan........

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