Israel declares success in the 12-day military conflict with Iran
In a spin, Donald Trump's claim that he ended the war between Israel and Iran leaves many questioning the truth, according to a scathing piece by The Economist. The conflict, dubbed the "12-Day War," began on June 13, 2025, when Israel launched "Operation Red Wedding." This surprising attack targeted Iranian nuclear facilities, military sites, and key regime infrastructure, resulting in the elimination of around 30 senior Iranian military commanders.
Two weeks later, the US leapt into action with "Operation Midnight Hammer," striking critical nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. Despite Trump's grand announcement, many believe the ceasefire is more of a temporary pause than a definitive new start. Confirming Iran's view that Israel and the US are dangerous enemies, the war will likely lead Iran to rebuild both its military strength and legitimacy.
The Israelis may have shown off tremendous military and intelligence capabilities, but they still needed America's assistance to finish the job. Even after establishing a regional hegemony, Israel, a population of ten million in a region of several hundred million, remains a precarious achievement.
Going head-to-head with the US poses formidable risks for Iran's rulers, according to Farnaz Fassihi in The New York Times. While conservative hardliners in Iran have called for the country to leave the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and close the Strait of Hormuz, other Iranian officials and pundits caution against such extreme measures. The supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has yet to issue an official statement, but his top foreign-policy adviser has taken a hard-line stance on social media.
The war has inadvertently shifted power to the Iranian regime's military arm, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). If Khamenei emerges from his bunker, he may struggle to reassert his authority over these new military men. In the long run, they may break the cycle of paranoia and insecurity, leading to a new social contract that reduces Iran's religiosity and paving the way for peace and prosperity—an ideal that might prove elusive yet.
- The next edition of your personal finance newsletter might include a discussion on the economic implications of the 12-Day War between Israel and Iran, considering the potential for policy-and-legislation changes in the region.
- Although political tensions remain high, the general news headlines are now featuring debates on the long-term repercussions of the war on global peace and Middle Eastern stability.
- In the latest newsletter issue, an in-depth analysis of the war's impact on the complex relationship between the US, Israel, and Iran in terms of war-and-conflicts, policy-and-legislation, and politics is provided.
