The 40-day US-Israel war on Iran, punctuated by a Pakistan-brokered ceasefire, neither had a just cause nor a crystallised war aim. The fluctuating war objectives included: elimination of Iranian leadership to engender a regime change; halt of Iran's nuclear programme that was claimed to have been obliterated in June 2026; destruction of its missile and drone programmes; total capitulation; capture of Kharg Island; control of Strait of Hormuz; etc.

The previous talks with Iran, in June 2025, were used by the US as a charade. Unfortunately, requisite consensus at home, allies' support and deliberations to carve out a war fighting and war ending strategy appear to be amiss too. The resignation of Jospeh Kent, the NCTC Director, with the assertion that "Iran posed no imminent threat to USA" adds to the illegitimacy of this war being fought for Israel at the cost of the US.

Death and destruction, erosion of peace and increased instability in the region has helped no one but Israel, given that the KSA-Iran rapprochement brokered by China has become a casualty of this war.........

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