Lance Gordon
The 2026 war between the United States–Israel coalition and the Islamic Republic of Iran followed decades of unsuccessful efforts to constrain Iran’s nuclear and regional military programs through negotiation, sanctions, and limited military action. Agreements slowed elements of the program but did not eliminate enrichment capability, ballistic missile development, or the proxy network that allowed Tehran to project power while avoiding direct state conflict. The dispute persisted because the parties held incompatible positions on whether Iran could retain near-weapons-grade enrichment.
By the mid-2020s, the issue had become urgent. Intelligence assessments indicated that Iran could produce weapons-grade uranium within days, enabled by stockpiles enriched to 60 percent and reduced international monitoring after limits on International Atomic Energy Agency inspections. Reporting also pointed to continued work relevant to weaponization. Israeli leaders viewed these developments through a doctrine that existential threats must be stopped before they become operational. Iran continued to support Hezbollah, Hamas, Iraqi militias, and the Houthis, creating a regional network able to operate under a potential nuclear threshold.
No comments:
Post a Comment