Meanwhile, one of the biggest obstacles to Israel’s efforts to thwart the regime’s nuclear ambitions — its air defenses — was lifted too. Israel’s airstrikes on Iran in October 2024 and the current conflict have given it air dominance over Tehran.
Altogether, this is what led to the Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iran, which have badly damaged the country’s nuclear facilities, ballistic missile program and air defenses.
The Iranian nuclear threat has essentially been sidelined in the short term — as a result of the destruction of its nuclear facilities and raw material — and in the long term, as there’s no longer any question as to whether Iran would face a credible military threat from both Israel and the U.S. if it attempted to rebuild.
Its previous role as the chief exporter of fundamentalist terrorism has been weakened by these developments too. The deterrence posed by Iranian proxies Hezbollah and Hamas had already been degraded since late 2023, no longer factoring into Israel’s decision to attack. The collapse of the Assad regime in Syria further weakened Hezbollah, making it difficult for Iran to resupply it with weapons. And now, Hamas has been left unsupported in Gaza.
Together, Israel and the U.S. have dramatically — and swiftly — reshaped the Middle East.
They’ve shown they’re aligned on the importance of using force if needed, even without the support of other countries. They’ve also shown the Iranian people that the regime’s costly projects could be challenged, potentially laying the groundwork for other forces in Iran to overthrow the ayatollahs.
The next step now is for leaders around the world to build on this momentum and push for a nuclear deal with a much-weakened Tehran. A deal where Iran agrees to stop pursuing a nuclear program in exchange for the gradual lifting of sanctions, and any Iranian commitments are carefully monitored to make sure it doesn’t resume its efforts to become a nuclear state.
The assault on Iran’s nuclear and missile sites has vastly improved the chances of normalized Israel-Arab relations, as well as a more stable Middle East. It’s an achievement that shouldn’t be underestimated — but it’s not the end of the road either.