On June 21, 2025, the US launched preemptive missile strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, calling it a strategic necessity. The attack signals the end of global restraint and the rise of anticipatory warfare.

Shift From Global Restraint To First Strike Mentality

• Collapse of Norms in International Conflict: UN resolutions, principles of sovereignty, non-aggression, and deterrence are undermined by expediency.
• Iraq As A Warning, Lessons From 2003: 2003 US invasion based on false claim of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) in Iraq.
  • Resulted In Mass destruction, civilian deaths and destabilisation.
  • This should have served as a caution against unchecked preemptive actions.
  • But the current Iran Strategy mirrors the same mistake.
• Iran As A Rupture: Shadow War To Open Conflict: This conflict did not erupt overnight. It has been brewing for years through:
  • Iran’s incremental nuclear advancements (breaching uranium enrichment limits)
  • Shadow warfare (assassinations of scientists, cyberattacks, sabotage)
  • Proxy battles (Houthi attacks, Hezbollah threats, Iraqi militia strikes on U.S. bases)
  • But the direct U.S. strike marks a paradigm shift from covert operations to open, high-stakes warfare.

Regional Fallout

• Risk of Escalation: The strikes may lead to retaliation Of Iran through:
  • Drone and missile attacks (via Hezbollah, Houthis, Iraqi militias)
  • Strait Of Hormuz blockade (threatening 40% of global oil shipments)
  • Cyber warfare (targeting U.S. infrastructure, Gulf allies)
• No Safe Geography: Global interconnectivity means economic and strategic shockwaves will be felt worldwide — from Mumbai to London.

Implications for Global Powers

• United States: The US gains a tactical edge but faces strategic overstretch, caught between Middle Eastern instability and Indo-Pacific priorities. 
  • Each missile fired at Iran weakens its diplomatic leverage, especially against China. 
  • With inflation and election-year pressures, the political risks are high.
• Iran: Iran’s regime uses the strikes to rally nationalist sentiment and reinforce a siege mentality. The IRGC is likely to activate proxies like Hezbollah and the Houthis. Despite damage, Iran’s nuclear knowledge remains intact.
• Israel: Israel scores a strategic hit on Iran’s nuclear sites but risks swift retaliation, particularly through Hezbollah, raising the threat of a broader regional conflict.
• Gulf States: Gulf nations prefer Iran contained but not provoked. They fear regional spillover and internal instability, prioritising stability over escalation.
• India: India faces a dual challenge due to its heavy dependence on Gulf oil and the potential need to evacuate its large expatriate population from conflict zones.
• Pakistan: It is caught between public sympathy for Iran and its economic reliance on the US, while also facing the risk of unrest in its restive Balochistan region bordering Iran.

Long-Term Global Implications

• Proxy Inferno in the Middle East:  Iran is likely to retaliate through its proxies, launching missile and drone attacks via Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Iraqi militias. 
  • US military bases may be targeted, Israel could face a northern front, and Saudi oil fields may come under fire. 
  • While this may not escalate into a world war, it could result in a prolonged regional conflict with devastating consequences for the global economy.
• Chokehold on the Global Economy: A blockade of the Strait of Hormuz could push oil prices above $120, disrupt supply chains, reignite inflation, and crash fragile economies.
  • Fragile economies could tip into recession, while rerouted shipping, surging insurance costs, and the devaluation of oil-dependent currencies would deepen the crisis.
• Normalisation of the “Preemption Doctrine”: The US strike sets a dangerous precedent where perceived future threats justify present military action. 
  • This shift encourages anticipatory warfare, with China potentially adopting “preemptive defense” over Taiwan, India and Pakistan hardening their positions on cross-border threats, and Russia finding retroactive validation for its actions in Ukraine. 
  • Such a trend erodes global stability and the norms of international law.

Is Diplomacy Still Possible?

Possible De-escalation

• Quiet diplomacy by Oman, India, and China may yield a tentative non-escalation pact, with Iran pausing retaliation and the US halting further strikes. 
• This results in a diplomatic “freeze frame”—not peace, but a fragile and uneasy silence, as sanctions persist and Iran’s nuclear programme quietly continues.

Conclusion

This is not just about Iran or the US. It is about the future of war, peace, and legitimacy.

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