The absence of quality and unbiased reporting is adding to the fogginess of the war. Though both sides, with the help of all kinds of surveillance — including eyes in the sky — have clarity about the nature of the enemy along the Iran-Israel border, ordinary people, whose concerns and beliefs have already been declared by their governments (whether they agree with their rulers or not), remain clueless about who is winning the war and why Iran is losing so many of its military commanders.
What became clear after a close reading of the media — even before the first shot was fired by Israel — was that Iran and the US were on the threshold of signing a nuclear agreement, followed by the withdrawal of sanctions on Tehran. This would have been a key development and would have undermined Israel’s rationale for pursuing a particular kind of anti-Iran politics. It would also have made it difficult for Israel to mobilize Sunni Arab states. Additionally, the withdrawal of US sanctions on Iran — expected in around 100 days — could have transformed the West Asian nation dramatically.
There is a view that the US was obliged to lift sanctions now, as it would soon lose the ability to impose snapback sanctions once the current provision expires in October 2025. This situation stems from the folly committed by President Trump, which weakened the US’s own security architecture.
Much of how the US has perceived Iran changed after Donald Trump became President. Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democrat and now Director of National Intelligence (DNI), issued a statement claiming that Iran was not building a nuclear bomb. However, for inexplicable reasons — often attributed to the machinations of the deep state — the US’s stance shifted. It seems Trump was struggling to maintain the position of not being a warmonger.
Israel surprised both the US and the world when it used its fifth-generation stealth aircraft to bomb key targets — ostensibly sites where nuclear weapons were being assembled in Natanz and Fordow. Though there was no visible debris, Iranians claimed — much like Pakistan did against India during their four-day face-off — that they had downed a few F-35s. Israelis, meanwhile, claim they used long-range missiles to target military commanders and top nuclear scientists. However, it is entirely possible that these figures were assassinated by Mossad agents under the cover of chaos created by Israeli bombing.
What is being repeated ad nauseam is the narrative that Iranian society has been subverted by Mossad, as many people are opposed to the clergy. The refrain is that with just a bit of pressure, the country could crumble, presenting an opportunity for regime change. Recent serials on Apple TV — like “Tehran” — are cited as evidence of how disillusioned Iranians are with clerical rule. However, this narrative has been questioned by Iranian writers who, despite having faced incarceration, refuse to act against national interests.
There are millions more in Iran who are fighting against a powerful enemy that now controls much of the Arab world on behalf of Western powers. Iran remains the only country openly standing up to this — even if it is governed by clergy.
Unsurprisingly, Iran has demonstrated ample evidence of its military capability and prowess. Although Tel Aviv and Tehran are over 2,000 kilometers apart, Iranian missiles have struck Israeli cities. Israel’s much-vaunted “Iron Dome,” considered one of the world’s most advanced anti-projectile systems, has been breached multiple times. As a result, parts of Israel now resemble bombed-out Gaza. Israelis — who long believed no Arab state or Iran could harm them — are now wiser. They’ve grown used to running in and out of bomb shelters. Their suffering garners little sympathy from their neighbors, especially given the Arab street’s deep-rooted animosity toward them, with some even wishing they suffer the same fate as devastated Gaza.
The endeavor of Israel’s pugnacious Prime Minister, Bibi Netanyahu — who is currently in Greece — appears to be to drag the US into this war. There are reasons behind this. First, Israel lacks the capability to destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities. Only the US possesses bunker-busting munitions. Second, the US could play a pivotal role in regime change. And since the US still enjoys some goodwill in Iran, Israel believes a Washington-led change would be more acceptable. They may be attempting to repeat the “Syria script.”
But Iran is not Syria. It will be a colossal tragedy if the US, goaded by Israel, enters the war. As one military expert from Israel presciently stated: Israel should accept US mediation and work toward an honorable and dignified resolution to this crisis. In his view, a war could harm Israel severely, as Iranians have a long memory — and they could exact retribution in the long term.
What’s worse is that the Western powers seem to have no interest in peace. They are giving full legitimacy to whatever Prime Minister Netanyahu is doing, whether in Gaza or Iran. It’s high time they wake up to the looming threat of an unending war in West Asia.
SANJAY KAPOOR is a Senior Journalist based out of Delhi. He is a foreign policy specialist focused on India, its neighbourhood and West Asia. He is the Founder and Editor of Hardnews Magazine. He is a Member of the Editors Guild of India (EGI) and, until recently, served as the General Secretary of EGI.
(Cover Photo: The Israeli army attacked parts of Tehran at dawn on Friday, June 13, 2025. Photo: Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Attribution: Mehr News Agency)
Ali KhameneiBenjamin NetanyahuDonald TrumpIranIsraelMossadNuclear WeaponsPoliticsUSAWestern CountriesWorldWorld Crisis