WANA (Jul 02) – Recent tensions between Iran, the United States, and Israel have reached a new peak following extensive attacks that coincided with rising regional conflicts.

 

Israel’s strikes on Iran’s industrial and scientific infrastructure, which also caused civilian casualties, reflect patterns seen previously in other parts of the Middle East such as Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen. The direct involvement of the United States through covert operations targeting Iran’s nuclear sites in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan has further escalated the situation.

 

The Trump administration’s move to feign interest in negotiations just before the weekend’s military strikes cannot be dismissed as a simple political maneuver. Israel, as a close U.S. ally, has for decades portrayed Iran as a strategic threat, emphasizing the risk of its potential nuclear weapons capability—even as Israel itself possesses a well-known nuclear arsenal. This dynamic has deepened mistrust across the region and made any attempt at de-escalation more challenging.

People attend a gathering to support Iran’s Armed Forces following the ceasefire between Iran and Israel, in Tehran, Iran, June 24, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)

The reality is that many agree no country—including Iran or Israel—should possess nuclear weapons. Yet the critical question remains: can states with such capabilities and a history of regional military interventions credibly claim the moral authority to judge or act militarily against Iran? The United States, the only country to have used nuclear weapons in war, and European powers with colonial histories, face serious questions about how they can play a constructive role in reducing tensions.

 

A Dangerous Distraction

Concerns over Iran potentially developing nuclear weapons have served as a pretext for pressure and military action by Israel and its American and European allies. At the same time, this focus risks diverting global attention from the ongoing crisis in Palestine, where issues of land, human rights, and security remain unresolved. The international spotlight on Iran can conveniently shift priorities in media and diplomacy away from these urgent concerns.

 

Within this strategic framework, Iran becomes a focal point that attracts global political and media resources. Some analysts warn that such dynamics could lay the groundwork for wider regional confrontations, possibly involving countries such as Pakistan, Turkey, or Yemen in the future. A more effective response, many argue, would be to redirect attention toward a peaceful resolution of the Palestinian conflict and address its historical and political roots.

Arak nuclear facility after U.S. strike. Social media/ WANA News Agency

Meanwhile, certain Israeli public diplomacy efforts—including public messages from the Israeli prime minister directed at “the great people of Iran”—have aimed to sow division inside Iran. However, Iran’s internal opposition movements have independent, domestic roots and are not easily manipulated by such campaigns. Despite the diversity of political views within Iran, there is a broad emphasis on defending the country’s territorial integrity and national sovereignty. Iran is an ancient civilization with a collective memory and identity that remains strong among its people.

 

Iranians may well be critical of their own ruling elites—and rightly so—but that does not mean they accept foreign military attacks on their country. The defense of one’s homeland is a deeply shared sentiment that transcends temporary political disagreements. National sovereignty belongs to the people, regardless of who is in power at any given time. This concept can be harder to grasp for foreign powers or settler-colonial states with limited experience of defensive nationalism.

 

The nuclear sites that have been targeted are seen as national assets, not merely government property. Iranians view themselves as the rightful owners of their land and resources. This simple truth is often overlooked in the calculations of foreign powers and regional actors.