The US attack on Iran is a wrecking ball aimed at its foundations

In Washington, the phrase “restoring deterrence” functions as a foreign policy reflex. The logic appears straightforward: strike Iran’s assets, degrade its proxies, and demonstrate that the United States remains the unassailable guarantor of regional order. It is a satisfying narrative. It is also a profound strategic blind spot. The military campaign the United States has waged against Iran is not merely a gamble on containing a troublesome regime. It is a wrecking ball that has swung past its intended target and smashed directly into the economic and political foundations of America’s own allies. From the industrial heartland of Europe to the energy-dependent economies of Asia and the fragile states of the Gulf, the costs of this conflict have been outsourced […]