10 LESSONS FROM THE US–ISRAEL ATTACK ON IRAN (So Far)

 

1. Widespread ignorance about Iran

The West, and many people around the world including my fellow Malaysians, know very little about Iran’s internal politics, governance structure and political culture. For decades the West has repeated a simple narrative about Iran. Over time, many have begun to believe their own propaganda.

Those who accept these narratives without question often do so because they already carry biases about what they imagine a theocratic Islamic nation must look like.

This conflict has exposed how shallow that understanding really is.

2. The limits of relying on US protection

This episode raises an uncomfortable question for countries hosting US bases or aligning closely with US military strategy.

In moments of real crisis, the United States cannot always defend its allies. Nor is it always willing to do so at the level those allies expect.

Some Middle Eastern partners are beginning to realise that their interests do not carry the same weight. Many feel treated like secondary players, while Washington’s full strategic attention remains focused on Israel.

This could reshape how countries view US bases, not just in the Middle East but also in the Far East. The Philippines, for example, may one day have to reassess its growing military cooperation with Washington.

3. Iran’s system is more resilient than portrayed

For decades Iran has been portrayed as a fragile authoritarian system dependent on a single leader.

Reality appears more complex.

Iran operates through layered institutions: constitutional structures, clerical networks, elected offices and powerful military command systems. This architecture allows the state to absorb shocks far better than many outside observers assumed.

4. Israel appears more cunning while America carries the cost

Israel initiated the confrontation. Trump and Netanyahu announced the attack together.

Yet today the global political heat is directed mainly at Trump and the United States.

Israel appears to have played this more shrewdly. The diplomatic and reputational cost is largely borne by Washington, while Netanyahu remains relatively shielded.

In simple terms, Israel looks cunning. America looks like it has been drawn into carrying the blame.

5. Iran appears well prepared

Iran seems to have prepared carefully for this conflict.

Its responses so far appear calculated and deliberate, almost like following a strategic playbook.

Iran has also shown restraint. Despite having the capability to target major US assets such as aircraft carriers in the region, it has avoided doing so.

That restraint likely reflects a strategic decision not to push the entire American public and military establishment fully into the war.

But if heavier American weapons are used, escalation may follow.

6. Trump abandoned his own negotiating principles

Ironically, Trump contradicts many principles he himself wrote about in The Art of the Deal.

The book emphasises preparation, doing your homework, understanding the opponent, building leverage and securing alliances before making a move.

Most importantly, every negotiation must have a clear endgame.

In this case there appeared to be no clear objective from the start. Instead, new goals seem to be invented along the way.

7. China and Russia are likely watching closely

There are growing perceptions that China and Russia are quietly assisting Iran behind the scenes.

China in particular is likely studying this conflict very carefully.

For Chinese strategists, this war is a real-world laboratory to observe how American military systems perform under actual combat conditions.

Some observers even believe Chinese experts may be working alongside Iranian specialists to assist and learn at the same time.

8. India may be drifting into a Zionist trap

India may be bending too far toward Israel instead of playing the nuanced and statesmanlike role it historically held.

Prime Minister Modi recently described Israel as the “father” and India as the “mother”.

As support for the idea of “Greater Israel” becomes more controversial and questioned even inside the United States, Israel may begin looking for another major power to anchor its political support.

India could become that partner.

Some observers even speculate that lobbying structures similar to the powerful American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) could one day emerge in India. An Indian version, perhaps called “IIPAC”, could attempt to shape policy debates and influence Indian politics in similar ways.

9. The biggest winner may be China

The biggest long-term winner of this conflict may not be the United States, Israel or even Iran.

It may be China.

From Beijing’s perspective, this war provides a live laboratory to study American military capabilities, logistics and limits.

China may conclude that the United States is not as dominant as previously assumed.

If Iran can produce thousands of drones and sustain prolonged confrontation, China’s industrial capacity could scale that capability dramatically.

For Chinese strategists, this conflict may simply be a rehearsal for the future.

It will also be interesting to see how China evaluates its options regarding Taiwan reunification.

10. Malaysians are still trapped in race and religious political lenses

Many Malaysians still cannot break free from our race and religious political mindset. Too many people choose sides not based on what is right or wrong, but based on their own internal biases.

There are those who celebrate the death of Khamenei simply because he promoted the hijab and traditional Islamic values, which they see as oppressive to women. Yet they fail to consider that a more US-friendly leadership could easily resemble the same elite class associated with scandals like Epstein, where power and privilege protect those who exploit young girls. The experience of the Shah of Iran and the Western-backed elite of that era seems to have been forgotten.

On the other side, there are those who support Iran simply because it is a Muslim country. Yet some Muslims hesitate to support Iran because it is Shia while Malaysians are largely Sunni.

Both reactions miss the bigger picture.

This war is not fundamentally about Sunni or Shia. It is not about headgear or religious rituals. At its core, it is about the geopolitical project of Greater Israel, and Iran has been one of the major obstacles standing in its way.

Peace, anas