The Iran–Israel–U.S. war is in its second week. Analysts had warned all along that a war against Tehran would be a high-risk venture. The present regime has been in place for nearly 50 years. It also has a well-trained and loyal military. Its proxy network may have weakened, but it is still spread throughout the region, and Iran possesses a huge stockpile of ballistic missiles and rockets.

The change of regime that the U.S. imagined by eliminating Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei triggered national cohesion in Iran and international cohesion between Shias and Sunnis across the globe. Iran has now appointed Mojtaba Khamenei as the new Supreme Leader, consolidating power around the Revolutionary Guard and further reinforcing a hard-line posture toward the West. Analysts warn that this leadership transition has hardened Iran’s resolve rather than weakening the regime, as many in Washington had hoped.

As per Al Jazeera and satellite images published by Reuters, following the 12-day war with Israel in June 2025, Iran began working on what it called the “new normal” of direct conflict with Israel and the United States. This included strengthening air defenses, repairing damaged infrastructure, and fortifying nuclear facilities. The strategy focused on a rapid, multifaceted military buildup aimed at restoring deterrence.

Iran aimed to maintain its missile and drone capabilities as its primary retaliatory tool. The same is evident in the retaliation crafted by Iran in the 2026 Ramadan war. Iran also worked on updating its military command structure and attempted to thwart Israeli intelligence infiltration. Iran expelled around 1.5 million........

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