Sun Sep 07 08:50:00 UTC 2025: ## Israel and US Strike Iran, But Experts Warn of Resurgence

**Washington D.C. -** A joint operation by Israel and the United States last month dealt a significant blow to Iran, targeting key Iranian officials, air defenses, and nuclear facilities. While the Trump administration claimed the country’s nuclear program had been “obliterated,” independent confirmation remains elusive. This event marked the end of a brief but intense 12-day conflict that resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,000 Iranians and dozens of Israelis.

The swiftness of the operation and the apparent lack of significant retaliation from Iran’s “Axis of Resistance” – a network of allied militias across the Middle East – have led some to believe that Iran’s influence is waning. However, experts warn against complacency, suggesting that the region risks reverting to a state of “peace that has characteristics of war,” with Iran rebuilding its strength and seeking new ways to challenge its adversaries.

“This is a regime on its last legs, but it could last like that for another 20 years,” said Michael Doran, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute. “They took a blow, but I see no signs that it’s ready to fall.”

History suggests that Iran has a track record of recovering from setbacks by adapting its strategies and employing unconventional methods. Following the devastating Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s, Iran developed the “Axis of Resistance” as a cost-effective way to project power and exert influence across the Middle East. This network of proxies, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, Shiite militias in Iraq, the Houthis in Yemen, and Hamas in Gaza, has allowed Iran to challenge its rivals without directly engaging in large-scale conflicts.

While the recent conflict has exposed vulnerabilities within the Axis of Resistance, experts caution that Iran is likely to learn from its mistakes and develop new strategies to counter its enemies. Some suggest that a diminished Iran, potentially under the control of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), might shift its focus from revolutionary Shiism to Persian nationalism, while continuing to seek ways to undermine the interests of the United States and Israel.

The key lesson from past conflicts is that achieving lasting peace with Iran requires more than just halting hostilities. It necessitates a fundamental shift in Iran’s strategic goals and a willingness to abide by international norms. Until then, the region remains vulnerable to renewed instability and conflict.

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