Iran-Israel War: 7 Things You Need To Know About The War In The Middle East
Discover the severe geopolitical, economic, and ideological realities that are fueling the Iran-Israel war. Understand its global impact and the arms trade and the true human cost?
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“The Iran-Israel War: 7 Important Facts Behind the Middle East War”
“The Middle East, once again, is in a period of severe turbulence. On one side stands Iran and on the other, Israel. The rising tensions between the two have sent alarm bells ringing all over the world. On the surface, the Iran-Israel War and its regional conflicts more widely are a simple conflict of a struggle for supremacy in the region, security, and ideological differences. ”
Look beneath the surface, however, and you will find it is a web of global politics, economic interests, and historical grievances. If a full-scale war engulfs this region, who really came out of it better? Who will lose out in the end? To grasp what is actually happening on this geopolitical chessboard, we have to look at the basic facts of what is driving the crisis.
Fact 1: The Ideological Core – Velayat-e-Faqih & Foreign Policy
” Iran’s foreign policy has deep roots in the concept of Velayat-e-Faqih (Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist), which was advocated by Ayatollah Khomeini. Under this system, the Supreme Leader is the supreme holder of all affairs of the state and society. ”
”This ideology lends the foreign policy of Iran a missionary dimension. The aim is not simply to protect the national borders but to export ideals of the Islamic Revolution, especially for those regions where there are large numbers of Shi’ites. Critics hold that despite Iran’s loud slogans of “Islamic Unity,” Iran’s foreign policy often expresses itself in sectarian terms. Support is heavily concentrated in certain groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon, different militias in Iraq and the Houthis in Yemen. ”
”This strategy attracts strong criticism from the Arab countries with a Sunni majority, especially Saudi Arabia, which accuses Iran of fomenting sectarianism and interfering with the internal affairs of sovereign Arab states. ”
Fact 2: The “Axis of Resistance” vs. Regional Dominance
Iran often describes its network of regional allies as the “Axis of Resistance” to be ostensibly used to fight against American and Israeli imperialism. Yet, geopolitical analysts consider this a studied instrument for the greater extension of Iranian hegemony.
” Through the lens of the gray zone, Iran uses instability within other weaker states, using non-state armed groups to reach its strategic objectives. Over time these proxy groups have been transformed into states within states. And instead of pursuing the national interests of their home countries, they function as appendages of Iran’s regional agenda, regularly paralyzing local governments and thwarting peace efforts. ”
Fact 3: The Divided Muslim Ummah, and Sectarian Divisions
The policies emanating from Tehran have tragically contributed to the widening of the fractures in the Muslim Ummah, instead of helping to weld it together. The proxy wars between Iran and its regional rivals since then are what continue to spark devastating civil conflicts in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen.
”These wars have cost hundreds of thousands of lives, and millions of innocent people are displaced. By supporting armed factions along sectarian lines, the historical schism between Sunni and Shia Muslims has become so pronounced that it has provided a breeding ground for extremist organizations to flourish. ”
”The Quran is a strict text against spreading chaos and violence in society. As Allah says:
وَالْفِتْنَةُ أَشَدُّ مِنَ الْقَتْلِ
(And Fitnah [tumult, oppression or creating division] is greater than killing.) — Quran 2:191
When the foreign policies are to advance geopolitical expansion on the altar of the sanctity of human life and unity, the fitnah that ensues destroys the very fabric of the Ummah.
Fact 4: World Power and The Going Concern Arms
In order to truly understand the mechanics of the Iran-Israel war and surrounding instability, we must take into consideration the global arms trade. The United States is still the world’s undisputed leader in weapons exports.
“According to information provided by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the US produces around 43% of the total global arms exports in recent years. “
The Demand for Weapons: When there is a rise in regional tensions, demand for military hardware shoots up.
“The Biggest Market: The Middle East is a vast market for the global arms industry. “
The Buyers: Nations such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar have consistently been among the world’s top arms buyers over the last decade.
“The equation is simple—the more unstable the Middle East, the more impressive the defense budgets, which directly and specifically enriches the countries that produce and sell these weapons.
Fact 5: US-Israel Relationship and Decades of Military Aid
“The dynamics of this conflict are inseparably connected to the relationship between the United States and Israel—that is, an ironclad relationship. Historically, America was Israel’s main military and diplomatic support. “
“Global media and historical facts show that since 1959, the US has supplied military aid to Israel in the total sum of more than 250 billion dollars. This freely available external capital and high-technology backbone is the basis of Israel’s defense capital, which greatly skews the regional balance of power and makes any diplomatic solutions difficult to pursue. “
Fact 6: Threat to Global Economy and The Energy Crisis
“The impact of a potential and growing Iran-Israel war extends well beyond the borders of the Middle East. This region is the beating heart of world energy supplies. A huge percentage of the world’s oil and natural gas pass through its strategic chokepoints. “
In case of a major war, directly
“ Energy Prices: Oil prices will experience a catastrophic spike.
Supply Chains: Global trade routes, especially maritime shipping, will be severely disrupted.
Inflation: The prices of food, manufacturing and transportation costs will skyrocket across the globe, possibly pushing the entire world economy into a deep recession. “
Fact 7: The Devastating Human Cost of Long-Term Conflict
“While political leaders argue ideology and military strategists determine troop movements, the cost of war is always paid by the ordinary civilian. “
“Wars destroy economies and generations of infrastructure and cause irreparable loss of human life. Societies are thrown into chronic instability, from which it takes decades to recover. This is precisely why rational minds and international experts at all times insist on the absolute need to prevent a full-scale confrontation in the Middle East. “
Final Considerations for Stability in the Region
“The world of today’s geopolitics requires profound wisdom, diplomatic foresight, and strategic patience on a far deeper level than policies rooted in emotion and reaction. An expanded conflict will not be able to be contained; its political and economic shockwaves will batter every corner of the globe. The leadership of the world and the region must focus on de-escalation and actively seek ways to lead toward peace. “
“History is its witness that war is never a lasting solution. It is a machine of destruction, economic ruin, and human tragedy. Our collective efforts and prayers need to be directed toward protecting the Middle East from yet another cataclysmic war, saving the world from an unprecedented humanitarian and economic crisis. “
Research and writing by Dr. Molana Imran Khan Gandapur.
Exclusively published on www.onlinemufti.org