M A Hossain,
The Middle East has once again come dangerously close to disaster. For twelve tense days, the world watched anxiously as Iran and Israel exchanged deadly attacks. Their actions have dragged both nations and their allies into a cycle of fear, destruction, and high-risk brinkmanship. The damage went beyond lives lost and buildings destroyed. It shook the stability of the region and raised global concern. This was a harsh reminder of what can happen when diplomacy breaks down and violence takes its place.
It all started on June 13, when Israel launched a surprise attack named “Operation Rising Lion.” The airstrikes targeted several of Iran’s key nuclear and military facilities. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the move, claiming that Iran was close to developing nuclear weapons. Iran, a long-time member of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, insists that its nuclear program is only for peaceful use. After Israeli military intervention, Tehran quickly hit back. Under the name “Operation True Promise,” Iran fired missiles and drones at Israeli infrastructure.
By the third day, this was no longer a small clash. It had become a real war. The United States, a firm supporter of Israel, joined the fight. American B-2 bombers and powerful “bunker buster” bombs were used, reportedly striking deep inside Iran’s nuclear sites. In return, Iran targeted U.S. military bases in Qatar and warned that the conflict could soon spread across the Middle East.
And just as the spiral threatened to engulf the region—from Beirut to Baghdad, from Doha to Dubai—something unexpected happened. Donald Trump, whose earlier social media posts hinted at regime change in Iran, abruptly shifted tone. He publicly called for peace, urging both sides to pursue a ceasefire. What’s more, he reportedly enlisted the Emir of Qatar to mediate with Tehran. Within hours, a ceasefire was announced. Though fragile and already challenged by mutual accusations of violations, the shooting has, for now, stopped.
Let us pause to acknowledge the lives lost in these twelve days of war. Several hundred Iranians are dead. Dozens of Israelis have perished. Families have been shattered, homes destroyed, entire neighborhoods reduced to dust. In Iran, the destruction of nuclear and military facilities was immense; in Israel, cities faced missile barrages that reignited memories of past wars.
This conflict was fast and brutal. It reminded everyone how dangerous the current situation is. Iran wants more power in the region. Israel believes in striking first to protect itself. The United States changes its position often. These three things together make the region very unstable. On top of that, the Palestinian issue still remains unresolved. Because of all this, real and lasting peace is still very hard to achieve.
Yet if the latest ceasefire is to mean anything, it must not be viewed as an end, but as a beginning—a fragile first step toward something more permanent.
The consequences of further conflict are staggering. The war threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s oil passed. Energy prices had already spiked globally, raising the specter of a worldwide economic crisis. For countries dependent on Middle Eastern oil—like Bangladesh, Pakistan, or even Japan—such a crisis would have been devastating. Inflation, energy shortages, social unrest—these are not just theoretical risks. They were knocking at the door.
Beyond economics, the humanitarian toll would have expanded rapidly. Iran, a nation of nearly 90 million people, and Israel, home to over 9 million, are not simply adversaries. They are homes to families, schools, elderly citizens, and children. Both societies include millions of peace-loving people who had no say in the decisions that brought them to the edge of destruction. For their sake, peace must not be a pause; it must be a plan.
And yet, reality demands an honest reckoning. Ceasefires are easy to announce but difficult to implement, especially when both sides remain ideologically committed to each other’s containment or downfall. Iran continues to support its proxies across the region, from Hezbollah in Lebanon to militias in Iraq and Syria. Israel, for its part, often acts with impunity, treating preemptive strikes as a legitimate tool of deterrence.
Then there’s Palestine which often treated as a sideshow in strategic calculations. But peace in the Middle East will remain a mirage until Palestinian suffering is meaningfully addressed. Israeli military aggression in Gaza and the West Bank, the blockade, settlement expansion, and civilian casualties continue to inflame Arab and Muslim sentiments across the region. For Iran, Palestine remains a rallying cry—a justification for its anti-Israel posture and support of its axis of resistance.
If Israel seeks real peace, it must do more than bomb nuclear facilities. It must demonstrate a commitment to coexistence—starting with ending the occupation and acknowledging Palestinian rights. Security does not come from silencing your enemy; it comes from removing their reason to fight.
The United States must also choose its role wisely. Trump’s sudden pivot from advocating regime change in Iran to calling for a ceasefire is both bewildering and revealing. On the one hand, it underscores the inconsistency of American foreign policy in the Middle East. On the other hand, it demonstrates the sheer power Washington still holds to influence events. For decades, the U.S. has fueled instability through selective outrage, arms sales, and vetoes at the UN. But it can also be a broker of peace—if it chooses fairness over favoritism.
Washington must now embrace a more even-handed approach. That means encouraging Israel to temper its military doctrines and pushing Iran to curtail its support for armed proxies. Both must be brought to the table—not as victors or vanquished, but as stakeholders in regional stability.
This moment calls for leadership. Not just political leadership, but moral leadership. The kind that resists the allure of airstrikes for television ratings. The kind that places diplomacy above ego. The kind that sees human lives as sacred, not as bargaining chips.
Israel must resist the temptation to resume hostilities under the pretext of violations. Iran must show strategic patience and restraint. And Washington—whoever occupies the White House—must resist its own reflex to choose sides instead of choosing solutions.
Let this ceasefire be more than a truce. Let it be the opening chapter of a new Middle East—one defined not by perpetual war, but by difficult, painstaking, and honest dialogue. Because the alternative—a return to missiles, sirens, and coffins—is not just unacceptable. It is unconscionable.
The guns have fallen silent. Now, let the voices of reason rise. Let peace, however fragile, be given a chance to endure.
M A Hossain, political and defense analyst based in Bangladesh. He can be reached at: writetomahossain@gmail.com
This article published at :
1. New Age, BD : 29 June, 25
2. The Nation, Pak : 01 July, 25
3. Bangladesh Daily, NY, USA : 30 June,25
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