US-Israeli aggression on Iran: What happened on 32nd day of the imposed war

By Press TV Website Staff

Thirty-two days into the US-Israeli war on Iran, which began with the assassination of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, on February 28, the military aggression continues to target civilian and industrial infrastructure.

On Tuesday, US and Israeli airstrikes hit multiple locations in Tehran, including districts 2, 4, 13, and 21, while attacks in Mahallat county killed 11 civilians and injured 15 others.

In Zanjan, three civilians were killed in a US-Israeli airstrike on the Grand Hussainiya.

In response, Iran issued a warning against 18 American technology companies, including Cisco, Microsoft, Apple, Google, Meta, Tesla, and Boeing, stating that they would be considered legitimate targets for retaliation due to their role in designing and tracking assassination operations in Iran.

Iran also reiterated that it is prepared for any ground confrontation with the US while emphasizing that it is not targeting its Persian Gulf neighbors, only US bases and assets.

On the diplomatic front, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that no formal negotiations with the US are underway, only an exchange of messages through regional intermediaries and directly via US envoy Steve Witkoff.

He reiterated Iran's conditions for ending the imposed war: a complete halt to hostilities across the region, guarantees against future attacks, and compensation for damages.

China and Pakistan jointly released a five-point peace plan calling for an immediate cessation of US-Israeli aggression, the start of peace talks, an end to attacks on civilians, the securing of shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz, and a comprehensive peace framework under the UN Charter.

On the economic front, US gasoline prices reached $4 per gallon, the highest since August 2022, marking the largest monthly jump on record.

The UNDP warned that the war could cost the region up to $194 billion in GDP losses, as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has declined by more than 70 percent and oil prices have approached $120 per barrel.

Meanwhile, The Economist reported that Iran's oil exports remain steady at 2.4 to 2.8 million barrels per day.

The following are the key developments from Day 32 of the imposed war:

America on US-Israeli aggression on Iran

• Axios reporter after conversation with US President Donald Trump: Barak Ravid reported that in a brief phone call, Trump told him: "Negotiations with Iran are going well." When specifically asked about the Pakistan-China initiative, Trump did not criticize it, merely repeating that diplomacy is progressing well.
• According to reports, Trump said that he doesn't "think about Iran's uranium stockpile. I know it's buried deep underground and is very difficult to extract."
• Trump on the Strait of Hormuz: "Countries should come in and take care of it. They should come in and do their own work. If they want oil, come and get it."
• Trump on France: In a post on Truth Social, Trump criticized the French government's stance: "The country of France would not allow planes loaded with military equipment destined for Israel to fly over French territory." He reacted to the decision, warning that Washington “will remember.”
• Trump taunts UK's Starmer (Truth Social): In a sharply worded post, Trump addressed the UK's fuel supply issues caused by the Strait of Hormuz disruption. Referring to Britain's decision not to participate in strikes against Iran, he wrote: "For all those countries unable to receive jet fuel due to the Strait of Hormuz, like Britain which refrained from involvement in bringing down Iran, I have a suggestion: Number 1, buy from the United States, we have plenty; and Number 2, show some courage, go to the Strait and take it. You need to learn how to fight for yourselves. The United States will no longer be there to help you, just as you were not there for us. The hard part is done. Go get your own oil!" 
• Trump willing to end war without reopening Strait (WSJ): US officials told the Wall Street Journal that Trump has told aides he is willing to end the US military campaign against Iran even if the Strait of Hormuz remains largely blocked. Trump and aides assessed that a forced opening would prolong the war beyond his desired timeframe of four to six weeks.
• More than 200 US soldiers have filed complaints regarding superior officers using religious rhetoric to justify the war.
• US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said US war objectives could be achieved “in weeks, not months” and that it was on track after "destroying Iran’s air force and much of its navy."

Iranian officials' statements

• Araghchi on diplomacy: Iran, he said, is engaged in message exchange with the US, both directly through envoy Witkoff and via regional friends, but no formal negotiations are underway. Tehran has not responded to America's 15-point proposal nor put forward its own, and no decision on negotiations has been made, he added.
• Araghchi on ending the war: Iran's conditions are clear: a complete halt to the war across the entire region, not a ceasefire; guarantees against future attacks; and compensation for damages.
• Araghchi on the Strait of Hormuz and regional tensions: The Strait of Hormuz is open to friendly nations, with all measures taken for safe passage. Iran is prepared for ground confrontation but will only target American bases and assets, not Persian Gulf neighbours. While rebuilding trust with regional countries will take time, he expressed confidence that it will be restored.
• Araghchi on Turkey missile claims: Iran’s FM dismissed "completely baseless" reports of a missile fired from Iran towards Turkey and proposed a joint investigation, warning of a "false flag operation by enemies.”
• Araghchi on US forces in region: The time has come for US forces to be expelled from the region. Iran respects Saudi Arabia and considers it a brotherly nation. Our attacks are aimed at the aggressor enemy that values neither Arabs nor Iranians.
• Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf on X: "I was just reading about Americans who, due to rising fuel prices, are skipping meals. It is distressing, but when your leaders prioritize the demands of others over ordinary, hardworking Americans, these outcomes are inevitable. This is no longer 'America First'; it is 'Israel First.'"

Iran's warning to the US and affiliated spy companies

• The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC)  issued a statement warning that American ICT and AI companies—including Cisco, Microsoft, Apple, Google, Meta, Tesla, Boeing, and others would be considered legitimate targets for retaliation, citing their involvement in designing and tracking assassination operations against Iranian citizens.
• The statement advised employees of these companies to leave their workplaces and advised residents within one kilometre of company facilities across the region to vacate the area.
• IRGC set a deadline of 20:00 on Wednesday, April 1st, Tehran time, stating that the named companies should expect the destruction of their respective units in retaliation for each act of terror carried out in Iran.

 Diplomatic efforts: China, Pakistan, and Russia

• China and Pakistan five-point peace plan: Following talks in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar released a plan for "restoring peace and stability" in the Persian Gulf region. The points include: immediate cessation of hostilities; initiation of peace talks ensuring sovereignty and security; end to attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure; securing shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz; and establishing a comprehensive peace framework under the UN Charter.
• China and Pakistan called for immediate peace talks: Beijing and Islamabad called on all parties to immediately halt military operations and attacks on civilians, and to begin peace talks as soon as possible. A joint statement emphasized the protection of shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz.
• China's stance on nuclear facilities: A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson opposed attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities, supported Pakistan's mediation efforts, and called on all parties involved in the imposed war to immediately halt military operations and start peace talks.
• Russia's ambassador to Tehran reported that Iran has confirmed Russian ships face no issues transiting the Strait of Hormuz, while noting that airstrikes near the Bushehr nuclear power plant continue despite statements from US and Israeli regime officials denying it. Russia stated it is ready to facilitate a political and diplomatic resolution to the war, taking into account Iran's legitimate interests.
• Pakistan's aid to Iran: Pakistan sent five trucks carrying medicine and essential goods for citizens affected by the ongoing war as a gesture of solidarity.
• FIFA chief Gianni Infantino said that Iran will be at the World Cup and will play their group matches in the US as scheduled, while still refusing to condemn the US-Israeli aggression, including an attack on Azadi Sports Complex in Tehran. 

US-Israeli attacks on Iran

• Tehran attacks: US and Israeli forces conducted airstrikes targeting areas of Tehran, including district 2, district 4, district 13 and district 21.
• Attack on Mahallat county: In a US-Israeli attack on three residential units in Mahallat county of the central province of Iran, 11 people were killed, and 15 were injured. Housing quarters were directly hit, destroying four units.
• Attack on Hussainiya: Three people were martyred and 12 others injured in a US-Israeli airstrike on the Grand Hussainiya in Zanjan.
• Attack on Kermanshah (Qasr-e Shirin): In another American-Israeli attack on workers of a civilian contract company, one worker was killed, and eight others were injured.
• Attacks on Kurdistan: US-Israeli attacks on Kurdistan province killed 2 people, wounding 17 others.
• Attack on Isfahan: US and Israeli forces hit various areas in Isfahan.

Damage to civilian infrastructure

• Qeshm desalination plant: One of Qeshm Island's desalination plants was targeted and taken offline, with no possibility for short-term repairs.
• Gilan province: At least 100 residential and commercial units have been damaged in recent attacks, according to local officials. 

Strait of Hormuz: shipping and security

• Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has dropped by over 70% since the US and Israel launched an illegal war on Iran, pushing oil prices from around $72 to near $120 per barrel.
• According to Bloomberg, after a month of US-Israeli war, Iran has significantly strengthened its control over the Strait of Hormuz, the world's main artery for energy transport.

US and its European allies

• France, Spain, and Italy are still refusing to allow the US to use their military bases or airspace for operations against Iran.
• Italy prevented US military aircraft from using a base in Sicily, denying landing after flights were deemed unofficial and outside of agreements.
• France has also refused to allow Israeli aircraft carrying US weapons to cross its airspace. France reportedly refused the request over the weekend.
• Spain also said on Monday that it had closed its airspace to US planes involved in airstrikes on Iran.

Economic impact: US, region, and global markets

• According to GasBuddy,  the national average gasoline price in the US reached $4 per gallon, the highest since August 8, 2022. This is the largest monthly jump on record, with gasoline up $1.059 and diesel up $1.701 per gallon.
• United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) stated that regional GDP could decline by 3.7% to 6%, a loss of up to $194 billion due to disruptions in trade, energy markets, and shipping routes. Up to 4 million more people could be pushed into poverty, with Iraq, Lebanon and Syria hardest hit. Between 1.6 and 3.6 million jobs are at risk.
• Middle East Eye reported that the US-Israeli war has severely impacted the UAE's economy, wiping $120 billion off the Abu Dhabi and Dubai markets, targeting aviation, real estate, and exposing vulnerabilities.
• Following reports of a tanker being targeted near Kuwaiti waters, US crude oil futures rose over $3, surpassing $106 per barrel, with Brent reaching around $115 per barrel.
• The Economist stated that Tehran currently exports between 2.4 and 2.8 million barrels per day, at least equal to last year's average, if not higher.
• The Wall Street Journal reported that the war has disrupted the supply of helium gas, crucial for AI chip manufacturing, due to the halt of natural gas exports from Qatar, which supplies about a third of the world's helium.
• Norway announced a temporary tax cut on petrol and diesel in response to rising fuel prices, as war continues to disrupt global energy supplies.
• Bangladesh ordered the government employees to switch off lights and reduce air conditioning usage, implementing energy-saving measures as the war exacerbates the country's existing power crunch.
• The European Union called on member states to take steps to reduce domestic fuel demand, addressing the surge in energy prices driven by the ongoing conflict.
• G7 economy and finance ministers said they were ready to take “all necessary measures” to stabilise the energy market.

Israeli statements

• Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that the war against Iran had "achieved more than half its aims," without putting a timeline on when it would end and without admitting losses inflicted on the regime. 
• Over 5,500 Israeli settlers have been rendered homeless after their homes were destroyed by Iran’s retaliatory strikes, Israeli army radio reported.

Regional dynamics

• AP report on US allies:
  • US allies, led by Saudi Arabia and the UAE, have urged Trump to continue the war. The UAE appears more belligerent, pressing for a US ground invasion; Kuwait and Bahrain also prefer this option.
  • Oman and Qatar favour a diplomatic solution.
  • Saudi Arabia has told the US that ending the war now won’t produce a “good deal,” one guaranteeing security for Iran’s Arab neighbours.
• Al Jazeera reported that the White House announced Trump is interested in asking Arab countries to contribute to covering the costs of the war.

Analysis and Commentary

• Foreign Policy wrote, “Trump is losing the war in Iran.” As per the news publication, despite the president’s claims of victory, key US objectives remain unmet, and Iran retains significant leverage, including control over the Strait. The war has lasted longer and cost more, and Trump's options are narrowing.
• In a Pew Research survey published last week, 61 percent of Americans disapproved of Trump’s handling of the war, while 37 percent expressed approval.
• Financial Times assessed that Iran may not only avoid weakening but could emerge from the conflict in a more powerful position than before.

Iran taunts US's 'America First' slogan after Hegseth-linked broker found to be on prowl for war profit

Iran mocks the US administration’s "America First" slogan after reports emerged that a broker linked to the US war secretary explored profiting from military investments as Washington was about to attack the Islamic Republic upon Israeli instigation.

"Nothing says 'America First' like launching a war for a foreign regime, while trying to profit as young soldiers are sent off to die," Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote in a post on X on Tuesday.

Earlier, The Financial Times had reported that, in the weeks leading up to the United States' and the Israeli regime's latest bout of unprovoked aggression targeting the Islamic Republic, a financial broker linked to US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth explored a substantial investment in major military contractors.

Sources cited by the daily said the broker, operating through ⁠Morgan Stanley, contacted BlackRock in February about putting millions of dollars into the firm’s newly launched iShares Defense Industrials Active ETF (IDEF).

The fund, which debuted in May 2025, focuses on global military procurements, aerospace, and security-related companies.

In the months preceding the launch of the aggression, the Israeli regime was reported to be feverishly trying to push Washington towards attacking the Islamic Republic.

The efforts were witnessed by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's travelling to Washington ahead of schedule to ensure US President Donald Trump would consent.

"This war of choice is imposed on both Americans and Iranians," Araghchi's post concluded.

Also on Tuesday, Iran’s Majlis (Parliament) Speaker Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf criticized US foreign policy after a CNN report revealed that American families were skipping meals to afford skyrocketing gas prices triggered by the aggression towards Iran.

The aggression has prompted the Islamic Republic to close the strategic Strait of Hormuz to enemy vessels and ships belonging to those aiding them in retaliation, a move that has contributed to global rise in energy prices.

"Just read about Sarah and others in the US skipping meals because gas prices keep climbing,” Qalibaf wrote in a social media post. "Sad, but this is what happens when your leaders put others ahead of hard-working and ordinary Americans. It’s not America First anymore… it’s Israel First."

War against Iran part of broader Western war on interconnected resistance fronts

Dr. Firoz Osman

War today is not confined to a single battlefield. It is being waged across multiple fronts of the wider Muslim world – Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Sudan, and now Iran.

These are not isolated confrontations, but interconnected theatres within a broader geopolitical struggle over power, resources, and ideological dominance.

To understand the present escalation against the Islamic Republic of Iran, one must situate it within a longer historical arc – a one defined by intervention, resistance, and the contest over sovereignty in the Muslim world.

1979: The turning point

The modern phase of confrontation with Iran began with the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

The popular revolution overthrew the Shah, a monarch whose rule had been secured through foreign intervention. In 1953, a CIA-engineered coup removed the democratically elected prime minister, Mohammad Mossadegh, after he nationalized the country’s oil industry, previously dominated by British interests.

The Shah, restored to power, ruled through repression, enforced by the SAVAK – a dreaded and secret police apparatus known for widespread torture and brutality.

Resistance to this West-backed regime grew steadily until it culminated in the people’s uprising and the revolution. On 11 February 1979, the Islamic Republic was formally established, fundamentally altering the regional balance of power.

Iran and Palestine: Ideology and alignment

The 1979 Islamic Revolution immediately signaled a shift in Iran’s foreign policy priorities.

Within days, Iran handed over the former Israeli embassy in Tehran to the Palestine Liberation Organization. Yasser Arafat became the first foreign leader to visit post-revolution Iran, symbolizing a new strategic alignment.

Later that year, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini declared Al-Quds Day – an annual global mobilization on the last Friday of Ramadan dedicated to the liberation of al-Quds.

Al-Quds Day functions as more than a symbolic event. It is an avenue of political mobilization, reaffirmation of ideological commitment and a global expression of solidarity. It connects local struggles to a broader vision of unity within the Muslim Ummah.

Iran’s unwavering and unflinching support for Palestine was not framed as optional diplomacy, but as a religious and ideological obligation rooted in the defense of the oppressed worldwide.

Why 1979 Revolution threatened the West

The Islamic Revolution of Iran, led by Imam Khomeini, represented more than regime change. It disrupted the architecture of Western influence in the region.

The Shah had been a critical ally, ensuring Western access to oil resources, regional dynamics favorable to Western interests and strategic alignment with Israel.

With his removal, the US, Britain, and Israel lost a central pillar of their regional order.

Two strategic imperatives – control over energy resources and the protection of Israel – have long shaped Western policy in West Asia. The emergence of a defiant, independent Islamic Republic of Iran challenged both.

Containment: Sanctions and isolation

In response, Iran was subjected to sustained economic and political pressure by Western countries led by the US and its allies.

For decades, sanctions have been used as a tool to undermine the Islamic Republic, limit its influence, and undermine internal support for its revolutionary model.

This pattern extends beyond Iran: any state that challenges dominant global structures risks economic strangulation or military confrontation.

Palestine: Siege and resistance

While Iran faced sanctions, Palestine endured apartheid and siege.

For nearly two decades, Gaza has been blockaded – its population confined, monitored, and economically suffocated. Despite these conditions, Palestinian resistance movements developed extensive underground networks, enabling them to organize, train, and sustain their struggle for the liberation of occupied territories.

Support from Iran, alongside coordination with resistance groups such as Hezbollah, contributed to the evolution of this resistance infrastructure.

Arab normalization and strategic betrayal

Parallel to Palestinian suffering, several Arab states gradually moved toward normalization with the Israeli regime, betraying the just Palestinian cause.

Countries including Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan established or strengthened ties with Israel, prioritizing regime stability, economic cooperation, and security guarantees.

This shift reflected a broader calculation: survival of ruling elites over solidarity with Palestine. Reliance on Western military protection, particularly through US bases in the Gulf, reinforced this alignment.

October 7: Strategic shock

On October 7, 2023, Gaza-based resistance movement Hamas launched a large-scale operation in the occupied territories, an operation it called Al-Aqsa Flood.

The operation disrupted long-standing assumptions about Israeli military invulnerability and triggered a regional escalation. It also reactivated a network of allied groups, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, Ansarullah (Houthis) in Yemen and armed factions in Iraq.

This constellation, often described as an “Axis of Resistance,” demonstrated coordinated, multi-front pressure against Israel and its regional and extra-regional allies.

Why Iran supports Palestine

Although Palestine is not explicitly named in Iran’s constitution, Iranian leadership grounds its support for the Palestinian cause in broader principles, which include defense of the oppressed, opposition to injustice and commitment to Muslim unity.

Article 152 of Iran’s constitution frames foreign policy around these ideals, providing the basis for its consistent pro-Palestinian stance.

The resistance narrative is reinforced through martyrs, including Ahmed Yassin, Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi, Ismail Haniyeh, Yahya Sinwar, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Qassem Soleimani, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, Ali Larijani, Ali Larijani and Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

These figures are seen not merely as revolutionary leaders, but as symbols of resistance.

Narratives of sacrifice – such as accounts of Sinwar fighting until his final moments or Ayatollah Khamenei refusing to go underground amid threats to his life – serve to strengthen morale and legitimize the ongoing struggle against the Israeli-American coalition of evil.

Leadership and moral authority

Accounts attributed to figures like Ayatollah Khamenei emphasize a model of leadership rooted in shared risk and moral consistency.

The idea is simple but powerful: A leader cannot call for sacrifice while avoiding it.

This framing draws deeply from Islamic historical memory, particularly the legacy of Imam Hussain ibn Ali (AS), where steadfastness in the face of overwhelming odds is regarded as the highest form of integrity.

War, power, and the future

The current war against the Islamic Republic of Iran – widely deemed an illegal and unjustified war – cannot be reduced to a single issue.

It reflects deeper structural tensions: between independence and external control, between resistance and normalization, between ideological commitment and political expediency.

What remains clear is that the wars across Palestine, Iran, and the wider region are not isolated. They are interconnected expressions of a larger struggle – one that will continue to shape the political and moral landscape of the Muslim world.

Dr. Firoz Osman is a South Africa-based author and analyst. He is the author of "Shattering Zionist Myths" and co-author of "Why Israel?"

The Art of the Flip: Trump’s Deceptive Middle East Doctrine

By Al Ahed Staff

Rhetorical Whiplash: From the “Master Dealmaker” to the Architect of Unending Conflict

President Donald Trump has built a political identity on brazen falsehoods—exaggerating rally sizes, downplaying ties to Jeffrey Epstein, and now rewriting the narrative of war with Iran in real time. In March 2026, that pattern became unmistakable: statements issued with certainty, then contradicted almost immediately.

It started on March 9, when Trump announced plans to “seize control” of the Strait of Hormuz — a chokepoint he described as essential to the flow of global trade.

Five days later, on March 14, he was already speaking as if the mission were over. In a post on Truth Social, he claimed the United States had destroyed “100% of Iran’s military capability” and declared the strait “open, safe, and free,” urging commercial ships to resume passage. But buried in that same message was a call for allied navies to secure the waterway — a detail that quietly contradicted everything else he had just said.

The reversal came within hours. On March 15, speaking from Air Force One, Trump suggested the US might step back from the mission entirely. “We don’t need the strait,” he said, arguing that American energy independence made the whole operation unnecessary — that other nations should look after their own shipping lanes. The same waterway that had justified going in, and had supposedly just been secured, was now treated as someone else’s problem.

Within a week, the position collapsed: from seizing control, to declaring total victory, to questioning the need for involvement. Each statement did not build on the last; it erased it.

The pattern repeated on a larger scale. According to Al Jazeera, on March 27, Trump declared the war “won,” insisting Iran’s military had been “obliterated” and that “Operation Epic Fury” had neutralized the regime within hours of its February 28 launch. By the next day, it was not. Trump issued a new ultimatum, threatening to “obliterate” Iran’s power plants if it did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz by April 6. Victory, it seemed, did not end the conflict—it justified its continuation.

This cycle—certainty followed by contradiction—has made it impossible to identify a stable policy. As The Guardian reported on March 28, Trump’s claim that he is “winding down” the operation clashes with the deployment of 10,000 additional troops. His repeated assertion that Iran is “begging for a deal” has been rejected by Tehran, which maintains that no negotiations are taking place.

What emerges is not strategy but replacement. A mission is essential—until it is not. A threat is eliminated—until it returns. A war is over—until it continues. For allies, uncertainty. For adversaries, opportunity. For the public, confusion.

Betraying the Promise of the “Anti-War” Candidate

These contradictions reflect a deeper break from the political identity that helped return Trump to power. According to The New York Times, during his 2024 campaign, he cast himself as the candidate who would end wars, arguing that those who start them are “weak” and incapable of making deals. He criticized past interventions, particularly the Iraq War, as “stupid” and based on false information.

The reality in 2026 is different. With the death toll in Iran surpassing 1,900, the same leader who promised to “stop wars” has embraced a strategy of escalation that mirrors the policies he once condemned. The gap between rhetoric and action is stark.

During his 2024 victory speech, Trump declared, “I’m not going to start a war, I’m going to stop wars.” Today, that pledge stands in tension with a growing conflict that has already left American service members wounded.

The Global Erosion of American Credibility

The consequences extend beyond US borders. CNN reported in early 2026 that Trump’s record of disputed claims—from statements about “Israel” to controversies surrounding Epstein—has weakened trust among allies. The release of unsealed documents in 2026, which implicated Trump, further fueled concerns about transparency and the possibility that the president may be compromised by the Mossad.

This credibility gap carries real consequences. When the United States presents intelligence on Iranian threats, it now faces skepticism that would have been unlikely in the past. Allies hesitate, and adversaries adjust accordingly.

According to Reuters, G7 allies have begun openly criticizing what they describe as the “reckless folly” of a conflict that continues to expand despite assurances of restraint. Strikes on sensitive sites, including civilian nuclear facilities, have further strained relations.

Ultimately, the cost extends beyond the battlefield. If allies believe the president is compromised and his commitments can shift overnight, the foundation of diplomacy erodes. As the conflict deepens, the administration’s reliance on shifting narratives risks leaving the United States increasingly isolated, its credibility diminished when it is most needed.

The Decoy of Dominance: How Iranian Resilience Exposed the “Israel” Lobby’s Strategic Failure

By Mohamad Hammoud

The promise of a swift victory in the Middle East has dissolved into a reality that threatens both the American and global economy. According to strategic realist John Mearsheimer, who spoke with Breaking Points, the current military campaign is a "colossal mistake" that defies strategic logic.

Mearsheimer suggested that advisers such as Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner- whom British intelligence labeled “Israeli” assets- may have deceived Donald Trump into this conflict. He further noted that Benjamin Netanyahu likely blackmailed the President, which helps explain how Trump so quickly abandoned his "no more forever wars" pledge. Four weeks in, the gap between the White House's rhetoric and the war's spiraling costs has become a crisis the administration can no longer ignore.

Rather than delivering the promised victory, the campaign has unraveled into a strategic disaster that exposes elite impunity. The American economy is sliding toward turmoil, while the myth of an untouchable US military has been openly humiliated. The combined apparatus of American and “Israel” intelligence has failed spectacularly, revealing deep structural incompetence. NATO is quietly retreating from Iraq, and key allies are increasingly unwilling to be drawn into a widening conflict they no longer believe can be won. This strategic vacuum has left Western planners scrambling to justify a war that has neither a clear exit strategy nor a domestic mandate.

Economic Realities and the “Israel” Lobby

Americans are already feeling the impact at the gas pump- but Iran has turned the same chaos into a financial windfall. According to Mehr News Agency, the Islamic Republic has earned an estimated $8.7 billion in oil profits since the conflict began on February 28, 2026. That surge came partly because Trump was forced to issue sanctions waivers to keep domestic fuel prices in check. While American families face "major league inflation," Tehran has leveraged global energy demand as a strategic shield- a stark indication that the West's campaign of economic pressure has failed.

Shattering the Myth of Stealth

The conflict has also exposed the myth of American technological invincibility. CNN reported that a US Air Force F-35A Lightning II made an emergency landing on March 19 after being struck by Iranian fire. Iran used passive infrared search and track [IRST] systems- which home in on engine heat signatures-  to bypass the aircraft’s stealth. The engagement shattered the "stealth" deterrent that has defined American air power for decades.

The naval picture is equally grim, with the world's most advanced nuclear-powered aircraft carrier forced to retreat. According to Reuters, the USS Gerald R. Ford withdrew from the Red Sea for urgent repairs following a severe fire that severely crippled its strike capabilities. Meanwhile, Tehran demonstrated global reach by conducting precision strikes far beyond the immediate theater, proving that Western "safe zones" no longer exist. According to The Wall Street Journal, Iran launched ballistic missiles traveling 4,000 kilometers to target the joint US-UK military base on Diego Garcia.

Intelligence Failure and the Fracturing Coalition

CNN broadcast footage of sprawling underground "missile cities," revealing that the US and “Israel” remain largely unaware of Iran's most strategic assets. The report detailed how Iranians utilized high-fidelity decoys to draw expensive Western munitions away from real targets. This failure has left the United States defending the interests of “Israel” at the expense of its own stability.

While Washington fractures politically, Iran projects national resolve. According to the Associated Press, millions of Iranians have flooded the streets across major cities, from Tehran to Mashhad, demanding "regret-inducing" revenge against Western targets. These massive displays of public unity have silenced internal dissent, as citizens have rallied behind the flag in response to the strikes on their leadership. This surge of nationalist fervor complicates the White House's quiet hope that pressure might trigger an internal collapse.

As senior officials like Joe Kent, Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, resign in protest- alleging that "high-ranking “Israeli” officials and media hawks ran a misinformation campaign to drag the President into war- the administration grows increasingly isolated. Mearsheimer echoed these concerns, noting that advisers like Kushner and Witkoff, labeled "Israel" assets by British National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell, convinced the administration that Iran would collapse under pressure. It did not. The retreat of the USS Gerald R. Ford marks a permanent turning point for Western influence in the 21st century.

Analysts: Iran Hit American ‘Third Eye,’ US Surveillance Worsens

By Al Ahed Staff, Agencies

Analysts warned that Iran’s strike on a Saudi airbase, which destroyed a US Air Force E-3 Sentry, weakened America’s long-range ability to detect Iranian threats.

Dramatic images of the wrecked aircraft, geolocated by CNN, show its tail broken off and its distinct rotating radar dome –– a critical part of the airborne warning and control system, or AWACS –– on the ground at the Prince Sultan Air Base.

The loss of the AWACS is “a serious blow to US surveillance capabilities,” said CNN analyst Cedric Leighton, warning it could also affect the US ability to control and protect combat aircraft.

CNN has reached out to US Central Command for comment on the destruction of the aircraft.

The AWACS monitors up to 120,000 square miles from ground to stratosphere and has been a key US asset for decades, with its 17‑aircraft fleet giving Washington a major strategic edge, analysts say.

Images of the destroyed aircraft surfaced on social media over the weekend, and CNN confirmed the location in central Saudi Arabia by matching them to a March 11 satellite photo showing the E-3 at the same spot.

CNN had previously reported that an attack on the air base left at least 10 US service members injured. No fatalities were reported. A US Air Force tanker aircraft was also damaged, sources said.

The E-3 AWACS is a powerful airborne command and surveillance platform, tracking up to 600 targets—from aircraft and missiles to drones and tanks—and relaying real-time data to commanders, ships, or the Pentagon, while directing fighters and attack aircraft to engage threats.

A report from the Center for a New American Security calls the AWACS the “quarterback” of the battlefield, providing real-time coordination and situational awareness, and calls it “an indispensable asset” for US operations.

Peter Layton, a former RAAF officer, said airborne radars “exponentially increase the detection time of threats,” letting an E-3 spot Iranian drones far sooner than ground radar, while its mobility makes it harder to target.

Analysts questioned how the US let the E-3 become vulnerable. Leighton said the aircraft normally receives fighter escorts and avoids hostile airspace, calling its loss on the ground “a serious breach of our Force Protection efforts,” and suggested Iran may have had help, possibly from Russia, with targeting.

Kelly Grieco of the Stimson Center said the attack shows Iran is targeting limited high-value assets. She noted its strikes on radars, satellite links, tankers, and AWACS reflect a “counter-air campaign…adapted to what Iran can actually do. And the damage is real.”

Analysts noted the US E-3 fleet is limited and aging, with only 17 jets—fewer than B‑2 bombers—and the first aircraft dating back to 1978. Despite efforts to find replacements, the planes remain critical, and Grieco said they “direct the battle” while facing intense operational strain in the Middle East.

The E-2 Hawkeye, used by the Navy, is no easy substitute: smaller crew and lower altitude limit its radar coverage, leaving the Sentry’s unique capabilities unmatched.