Recently, Israel has intensified its strategic manoeuvres against Iran, a situation often mistakenly seen as merely an extension of Israel’s ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza. However, this oversimplification overlooks the more intricate dynamics at play. Hamas’s political objectives and Iran’s broader geopolitical ambitions have aligned them on a shared platform against Israel, reflecting a deeper, more complex conflict. The roots of this situation extend far beyond the immediate tensions in Gaza, highlighting the consequences of decades of ineffective U.S. foreign policy. This failure has enabled Iran to emerge as a dominant regional power, acting with increasing boldness and little restraint.

The United States, once the unrivalled power in the Middle East, has seen its influence wane significantly over the past decade. This decline is most evident in Washington’s inability to counter Iran’s growing regional influence effectively. Since 2010, Iran has expanded its reach, funding and arming proxy groups across the Middle East, creating a network of militias and political entities that challenge U.S. interests and destabilise neighbouring countries. This strategy, often referred to as Iran’s “proxy warfare,” has allowed Tehran to achieve a level of regional dominance that would have been unthinkable a decade ago. The failure of U.S. policy towards Iran can largely be attributed to a fundamental misunderstanding of the nature of the Iranian regime. Unlike other states that have been successfully contained or deterred by the threat of economic or military consequences, Iran’s leaders are motivated by a radical ideology that views the consolidation of power in the region, especially among Sunni Muslims, as a divine imperative. This opaque political ideology, deeply........

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