jordan pulse -

In an unprecedented military adventure, U.S. President Donald Trump followed the promises of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, launching a treacherous aggression against Iran that began with the bombing of a children's school in Minab. This move ignored warnings from former U.S. military leaders who viewed war with Iran as a "strategic catastrophe" given Iran's vast geography and its possession of the region's largest ballistic missile arsenal.
​Strategic Miscalculations and Resistance
​The "Shock and Awe" theory adopted by the duo—aimed at collapsing the regime through the assassination of the Supreme Leader and top commanders—has backfired. The Iranian leadership absorbed the blow quickly, retaliating against U.S. bases and strategic Israeli facilities. The rapid election of Mojtaba Khamenei as the new successor frustrated plans for a power vacuum and signaled national unity. Two weeks into the conflict, the goals of destroying the nuclear program or toppling the regime remain unfulfilled.
​Regional Contagion and Economic Fallout
​The war has engulfed the Gulf, despite declarations of neutrality. Gulf figures have expressed outrage at being dragged into a conflict that "is not ours, yet we pay the price." Iran has targeted the region to raise the cost for Washington:
​Economic Depth: The UAE faced a massive barrage of approximately 1,700 missiles and drones, aimed at paralyzing international trade.
​Tourism and Infrastructure: Around 40,000 flights have been canceled since the war began, shattering the image of regional stability.
​Lebanon: Hezbollah's escalation following Khamenei’s death led to violent Israeli responses across southern Lebanon and the Bekaa, causing mass displacement and a political rift in Beirut.
​The Chokepoint Crisis
​The most dangerous development is the threat to global maritime corridors. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz—the artery for one-fifth of global oil and gas—has sent shockwaves through energy markets. QatarEnergy suspended production after its facilities were targeted, causing European gas prices to surge by 50%. This crisis extends to Bab al-Mandab and the Suez Canal, threatening to paralyze global supply chains entirely.
​Conclusion
​President Trump now faces two bitter choices: a long war of attrition that America cannot sustain, or a withdrawal that would be marked as a crushing defeat for him and Netanyahu. Iran has proven it is neither Afghanistan nor Iraq; entering its "hot oven" is far easier than finding a way out.
​By Ahmed Abdel Baset Al-Rajoub
Strategic Researcher and Planner