Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator
Iran responded to ongoing Israeli attacks by launching two waves of hypersonic missiles in the early hours of Wednesday, marking the sixth day of the conflict, which began with an unprovoked attack by Israel.
The Wall Street Journal reported that U.S. President Donald Trump’s meeting with his national security team did not result in a decision to attack Iran. A White House official stated that the meeting in the “Operations Room” lasted approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes, without providing any further details.
Among the options Trump is studying is the use of bombs that are exclusively owned by the U.S. and capable of destroying the Fordo uranium enrichment facility deep in the mountains, which Israel-owned bombs cannot access.
The meeting comes after Trump heightened his threats against Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, increasing speculation over a possible U.S. military intervention in the six-day ongoing confrontation.
Trump has said the US was not a partner in the attack on Iran. However, the weapons used in the attack were all American-made, and given free of charge as part of the billions to Israel by act of Congress.
Trump has demanded an unconditional surrender from Tehran as the price of peace. Trump also hinted at regime change when he said the U.S. knew the exact location of the Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. A few days earlier, a US official told AFP that Trump opposed an Israeli plan to assassinate him.
Trump had ridiculed President Obama for getting the US into Middle Eastern regime change wars, such as in Libya and Syria. Trump campaigned on the promise to end US involvement in Middle Eastern wars. Still, it appears Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his lobbyists at AIPAC may have control over Trump.
Trump is faced with a decision that could pull the U.S. into a major war, resulting in retaliatory strikes on U.S. bases in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, and the UAE hosting more than 40,000 American troops in the region.
Netanyahu has cried wolf over Iran’s nuclear threat for 33 years. In an Al Jazeera video, Netanyahu is documented beginning in 1992 claiming that Iran was just weeks away from a nuclear bomb. He consistently chanted his Nuclear mantra, repeating the same statements over decades.
Iran does not have a nuclear bomb, but Israel does. We know that Netanyahu has lied about the imminent nature of the threat from Iran, so why has Netanyahu taken unilateral military action now?
Experts feel Netanyahu has been emboldened by Trump being in power. Every U.S. administration always gives the green light to Israel, but Trump is the ultimate American Zionist. Biden allowed for the genocide in Gaza to begin; however, Trump has fueled it further, going as far as personally controlling any food that is available in Gaza, among a population in famine. Israeli snipers are instructed to shoot any starving person trying to get to the food.
Iran is OPEC’s third-largest producer, extracting about 3.3 million barrels per day of crude oil. US officials say Iran could lay mines in the strategic Strait of Hormuz if the U.S. joins Israel’s military campaign, which could trap U.S. warships in the Arab Gulf and trigger a regional confrontation.
The current death toll across Tehran and Iran has risen to 585, with over 1,326 people injured by the Israeli attacks which began six days ago, according to Iranian media.
Israeli media have reported at least 24 people have been killed and 592 injured in retaliatory strikes since Israel began the unprovoked attack on Iran.
Recent strikes have targeted several critical nuclear and military facilities across Iran.
In Isfahan, four buildings, including a uranium enrichment facility, sustained damage.
At Natanz, surface-level centrifuge systems were hit, but the underground uranium enrichment plant remains intact.
The Fordow facility buried 500 meters inside a mountain, suffered only surface damage.
Other major nuclear sites in Tehran, Arak, and Bushehr have also been under scrutiny, though their current status remains unclear.
Israel and the U.S. possess advanced munitions designed to penetrate fortified structures.
The BLU-109 (900 kg) is used by Israeli F-35s and penetrates 1.8–2.4 meters of concrete.
The GBU-28 (2,250 kg) is deployed by F-15s and penetrates 5–6 meters of concrete.
The GBU-57 (13,600 kg) is exclusive to U.S. B-2 Spirit bombers, capable of breaching 60 meters of concrete.
The Iranian Armed Forces consist of 610,000 active soldiers, 551 warplanes, 107 naval ships, including 25 submarines, and 1,713 tanks. The 2025 Iranian defense budget is $15.4 billion. Iran’s forces are ranked 16th in the world.
The Israeli Defense Forces consist of 170,000 active-duty soldiers, 611 warplanes (including F-35 stealth fighters), 62 naval ships, including 5 submarines, and 1,300 tanks. The 2025 Israeli defense budget is $24.4 billion. Israel’s forces are ranked 15th in the world.
Iran’s advantages are the massive conventional forces and extensive ballistic missile arsenal. Their advanced drone warfare capabilities, including long-range attack drones, give them an advantage. Due to Iran’s geographic depth, key sites are harder to neutralize. Iran employs asymmetric naval tactics, leveraging submarines and fast-attack craft.
By comparison, Israel enjoys clear air power superiority, with stealth fighters and precision strike capabilities. The Israeli multi-layered missile defense systems are the Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Arrow. The cutting-edge cyber and intelligence operations are well known in Israel, and the backbone of Israel’s military superiority is the strong U.S. backing, ensuring access to free advanced weaponry, regardless of international laws, or human rights abuses.
Iran has signaled openness to talks via Arab mediators, while the U.S. demands an end to Iran’s nuclear program. Steve Witkoff, the US envoy to the Middle East, was set to meet Iran WWW in Oman on Sunday, when Israel launched the unprovoked attack on Friday, effectively canceling the Trump administration’s plans for a peaceful end to Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Iran is highly fragmented and doesn’t have a long tradition of democracy or a unified opposition movement.
Iranian Crown Prince, Reza Pahlavi, said from exile, “Islamic Republic has reached its end, now is the time to reclaim Iran”. Pahlavi himself has fostered cordial ties with Israel hoping for the day to be installed as the new U.S. puppet government, as was his father the Shah of Iran.
The conflict hinges on whether diplomatic channels can override military posturing. While Israel’s technological edge provides tactical advantages, Iran’s resilience and regional proxy networks ensure prolonged volatility. Western allies of the US have voiced messages of support for Israel, and have acted as though Israel had the right to an unprovoked attack on Iran. The international community is apparently unaware of international law, except if it concerns their country.
Yesterday, the King of Jordan, His Majesty Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein, addressed the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Referring to the array of conflicts taking place around the world, the King said that “our world feels untethered – like it has lost its moral gravity”.
Steven Sahiounie is a two-time award-winning journalist.
