Power, Pressure, and the Epstein Files: Inside Washington’s Iran Dilemma

Israel’s regional setbacks, US domestic political pressures, and the controversy surrounding the Epstein files are collectively pushing Washington toward a dangerous military confrontation with Iran.

Abbas Hashemite

US–Israel–Iran Rivalry and the Proxy War Landscape

The United States and Israel have always been hostile to the Ayatollah Regime in Iran due to the latter’s strong stance against their expansionist and interventionist policies. Iran has been the key supporter of anti-Zionist proxies in the Middle East. It has been allegedly providing military, intelligence, financial, and diplomatic assistance to proxy groups like Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis. All  three of these groups have posed serious threats to the US and Israeli regional interests and their expansionist agenda. Due to this support and Israel’s agenda to expand the Gaza war to the whole region, it attacked Iran in June 2025. The Israeli government also coerced the United States into joining this war. The US President Donald Trump succumbed to increasing pressure from the Zionist lobby in his country and attacked Iran’s nuclear facilities. However, the strong response from the Iranian army not only exposed Israel’s vulnerabilities, but it also pushed Tel Aviv to sign a ceasefire deal with Iran.

Regional Escalation: Gaza, Hezbollah, and the Yemeni Front

The Israeli government is incapable of fighting Iran and its regional proxies simultaneously

Since then, the Israeli government has sought to take revenge on Iran for its embarrassment in the 12-day war and shattering the global perception of Tel Aviv’s impregnability. The Israeli government has already dealt a huge blow to Hezbollah through bombing and intelligence operations, minimizing the proxy group’s manpower and strength. In Yemen, the United States and its allies have targeted Houthis multiple times. However, the Yemeni group survived these attacks and is still standing firm against Israel and the West. In Gaza, the West and Israel seek to weaken Hamas by putting the burden of the war on them. The US President Donald Trump announced a so-called 20-point Peace Plan for Gaza, which sought a complete ceasefire from both sides. However, despite Hamas’ sheer adherence to the ceasefire, the Israeli Defense Forces are continuously bombing the Gaza Enclave – killing civilians and destroying the remaining infrastructure.

The United Nations and other international institutions have repeatedly condemned the Israeli violations of the ceasefire and have criticized the Netanyahu government’s continuous bombardment of Gaza. In an official statement, the UNRWA stated, “A ceasefire in name only. Another dark day with 30 people reportedly killed only today. Nearly 500 people have been killed since the ceasefire has been in place, among them more than 100 children, according to UNICEF. A ceasefire means guns fall silent, giving way to efforts to end the war. Enough. People in Gaza deserve a genuine ceasefire – a much overdue ceasefire.” However, the United States has turned a blind eye towards Israeli war crimes and genocidal acts in Gaza. It has put the ounce of the war on Hamas and asks the resistance front to surrender its weapons.

The Epstein Files, Zionist Lobby Pressure, and US Policy Paralysis

Moreover, the Trump administration, allegedly at the behest of the Israeli government, is also threatening Iran. The United States is also intensifying its military buildup near Iran, an indicator of potential US attacks on the country in the coming days or weeks. Washington has also deployed the USS Abraham Lincoln, a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, to the Arabian Sea to increase its pressure on Iran. However, despite repeated threats, the Trump administration has delayed attacks on Iran. Just around two weeks ago, President Trump cancelled his plan to attack Iran due to the latter’s announcement of cancelling death penalties for the anti-government protesters. The recent release of the Epstein files, containing reports of Trump’s link with Jeffrey Epstein in illegitimate sexual activities, is allegedly linked to Trump’s inaction against Iran. The document also states that in his previous term, the US President Donald Trump was compromised by Israel. In 2025, Donald Trump blocked a planned Israeli strike on Iran’s nuclear sites. All this illustrates that the Zionist lobby in the United States and Israel is unhappy with the US President.

The influence of the Zionist lobby in the United States and across Western nations is deeply rooted. This lobby also influences the presidential elections of the US through financing and its strong presence in the US establishment. Trump’s recent attempt to occupy Greenland is also believed to be a part of the Zionist agenda due to a 2018 video of the Israeli Prime Minister about Greenland, which further demonstrates the strength of the Israeli lobby in the US establishment. Indeed, the Trump administration will have to attack Iran in the coming days or weeks. Otherwise, Donald Trump will have to face more consequences. The Israeli government is incapable of fighting Iran and its regional proxies simultaneously. Moreover, any successful retaliation from Iran will further expose the vulnerabilities of the Israeli military to the whole world. Therefore, it seeks for the United States to directly attack Iran or at least assist Israel in this attack. However, any such attack will have a detrimental impact on regional and global peace and stability. Moreover, it would further weaken the US domestically and internationally.

Аbbas Hashemite is a political observer and research analyst for regional and global geopolitical issues. He is currently working as an independent researcher and journalist