War as a Tool for Reinvention: US and Israel Action to Usher in a Progressive Iran and Stable Middle East
The ongoing war triggered by joint U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran has brought enormous destruction and heartbreaking loss of life across the region. The opening wave of attacks targeted military installations, nuclear facilities, and leadership compounds in cities such as Tehran and Isfahan. Among the most dramatic moments was the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with several senior security officials and ministers whose compounds were struck during the opening phase of the campaign. The sudden removal of the country’s top leadership created shock within Iran and triggered intense retaliation from Iranian forces. The violence quickly spread across the Middle East. Iran launched drones and ballistic missiles at Israeli cities and U.S. bases in countries including Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia, turning the conflict into a region-wide confrontation. Shipping lanes also became battle zones. In one dramatic naval incident, a U.S. submarine t...