U.S. caught in the shadow of Israel’s war on Iran as resistance axis grows stronger

Department of Research, Studies and International News 18-06-2025

Amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, recent developments suggest that Washington may be quietly endorsing Tel Aviv’s aggression, despite its official claims of pursuing diplomacy. Former U.S. President Donald Trump has sent mixed signals in the days surrounding Israel’s latest military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, raising serious concerns about whether Washington is inching toward another devastating conflict in the Middle East.

While Trump publicly stated that he remains committed to a diplomatic resolution, his social media posts revealed a more aggressive stance. Just hours before Israel’s strikes on Iranian soil, Trump imposed a 60-day ultimatum for Iran to reach an agreement, a deadline that had conveniently expired as Israel launched its assault. His later comments hinted at something “much bigger” than a simple ceasefire, leaving many analysts questioning the true nature of U.S. intentions.

Despite Trump’s public denial of direct American involvement in the Israeli attack, experts believe the U.S. administration was at the very least informed of the plan, if not tacitly supportive. Ali Ansari, a scholar on Iranian history, suggested that Washington likely gave a “wink and a nod” to Tel Aviv, even if it wasn’t directly engaged. This approach allows Israel to lead the offensive while shielding the U.S. from immediate responsibility.

Kelsey Davenport, a nonproliferation policy expert, noted that Israel likely launched the attack to sabotage ongoing diplomacy between Washington and Tehran. Fearing the success of renewed negotiations, Tel Aviv appears determined to provoke military escalation instead, a move consistent with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s long-standing opposition to any deal that curtails Israeli dominance in the region.

The attack reportedly targeted the Natanz uranium enrichment facility, severely damaging its surface operations and possibly its underground systems. However, Iran’s Fordow facility, deeply buried in a mountain and also enriching uranium to 60 percent, remained untouched. Analysts believe Israel lacks the capability to destroy such heavily fortified sites without U.S. military assistance, particularly weapons like the 30,000-pound Massive Ordnance Penetrator, which Washington has not yet transferred to Israel.

Nonetheless, the U.S. has made strategic moves that suggest preparation for escalation. The Pentagon recently deployed midair-refueling aircraft and sent the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier to the region, followed by announcements of additional warplanes heading to the Middle East. These maneuvers may serve as a show of force, but they also lay the groundwork for deeper involvement if Washington decides to shift from covert support to overt intervention.

From a geopolitical standpoint, this pattern mirrors the U.S.’s past interference across West Asia, always under the guise of defending peace and stability, but often resulting in destabilization and suffering. The American push for regime change in Tehran, echoed by Netanyahu, exposes the hollow logic behind such policies. Experts warn that even if the current Iranian leadership were overthrown, there’s no guarantee that a new regime, democratic or otherwise, would abandon nuclear ambitions. In fact, history shows that democracies, too, can pursue nuclear weapons as a deterrent.

Trump’s withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2018, under pressure from Israel, critically undermined diplomatic progress and paved the way for today’s crisis. Since then, Iran has gradually increased its uranium enrichment, with the IAEA reporting levels nearing weapons-grade purity. Yet, no credible alternative to the JCPOA has been presented by Trump or his successor, President Joe Biden, demonstrating a failure of both administrations to manage the issue responsibly.

As the U.S. moves closer to entanglement, voices within its own Congress, like Senator Tim Kaine, are calling for restraint. Kaine recently introduced a war powers resolution requiring Congressional approval before any military action against Iran. His warning, that war with Iran is not in America’s national interest, highlights growing domestic unease with another potential war driven by Israeli ambitions.

Ultimately, this unfolding scenario reinforces the urgent need for a multipolar world order, one where global power does not rest in the hands of a single, self-serving empire. The aggressive posturing of Washington and Tel Aviv stands in stark contrast to the more stable and sovereign-oriented policies of powers like Russia, China, and Iran. As the so-called Axis of Resistance grows stronger in its calls for justice and self-determination, the American empire finds itself increasingly isolated, no longer a symbol of strength, but one of desperation.