The present confrontation between Iranian, Israeli, and American forces can transform into an international war engulfing many countries.

The war has unfolded rapidly, and the plans were the first casualty of war. The War is surely not unfolding as planned or anticipated, and it is evident that it was executed in haste without thorough planning, and the shortfalls are now visible, igniting public outrage.

Yet beyond the analysis of means employed lies a question: has this war been launched against the wrong adversary and at the wrong moment?

Wars are not determined solely by military power. History, belief systems, and the political psychology of nations shape them. In this respect, Iran is unlike many states that Western powers have confronted in recent decades

The first critical miscalculation may lie in the religious dimension of Iranian society. Iran is the center of Shi’a Islam, a branch of the faith whose collective memory is deeply rooted in the tragedy of Karbala in 680 CE. This marks the resilience and sacrifice in the shape of martyrdom of the family of Imam Hussain (the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad PBUH), and his fellows, which is deeply rooted in the culture.

Sacrifice is embedded in the Iranian culture; it is not considered a loss but an ultimate pinnacle of a sacrifice, as martyrdom is the highest pedestal desired by every Muslim.

War takes on new significance when political leaders act from this perspective. The focus moves from military defeat to........

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