Global Tensions Escalate Amid U.S. Strikes on Iran: A Call for Peace over War

Global Tensions Escalate Amid U.S. Strikes on Iran: A Call for Peace over War

ANJAN SARMA

(Translated from Assamese by Pahari Baruah)

On June 22, 2025, the world awoke to a perilous escalation in the Middle East as the United States launched precision strikes, codenamed Operation Midnight Hammer, targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities at Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan.

President Donald Trump hailed the operation as a decisive blow to Iran’s nuclear ambitions, yet the strikes have ignited a firestorm of retaliation, diplomatic outcry, and global anxiety.

 Iran’s missile barrage on Israel, parliamentary vote to close the Strait of Hormuz, and urgent consultations with Russia underscore the risk of a wider conflict.

This crisis, unfolding against a backdrop of ongoing wars and tensions-from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to Israel’s conflicts with Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran, and simmering rivalries between India and Pakistan and China and Taiwan-demands a unified global rejection of militarism and a renewed commitment to diplomacy.

War, in all its forms, has proven a catastrophic failure, leaving devastation and division in its wake. The international community must chart a path toward peace before these conflicts spiral into a global catastrophe.

The U.S. strikes on Iran, involving over 125 aircraft, including B-2 stealth bombers, and Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from submarines, deployed the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, a 30,000-pound bunker-buster bomb designed to destroy fortified targets like Fordo, buried 260 feet beneath a mountain near Qom. Trump claimed the operation obliterated Iran’s nuclear enrichment capabilities, asserting it prevented Tehran from developing nuclear weapons.

Yet Iranian officials, including state broadcaster representative Hassan Abedini, countered that enriched uranium reserves were evacuated prior to the strikes, minimizing damage and averting radioactive contamination.

The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed no off-site radiation, though Israel’s earlier strikes on Natanz caused localized contamination. The operation, which followed Israel’s weeklong offensive against Iran’s nuclear and military sites, marked Washington’s first direct involvement in the conflict, shattering hopes for a diplomatic resolution.

Iran’s response was swift and resolute. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi denounced the strikes as a flagrant violation of the UN Charter, international law, and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, asserting Iran’s right to self-defense. Iran’s parliament voted to close the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for 20% of global oil and gas trade, pending approval from the Supreme National Security Council and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Such a move could cripple global energy markets, spike oil prices, and provoke a severe response from the U.S. and its allies. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that closing the strait would be economic suicide for Iran, potentially triggering a global response, particularly from oil-dependent nations like China. Iran also launched approximately 40 missiles at Israel, with some breaching air defenses and causing injuries and damage in Tel Aviv.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed responsibility, showcasing the Khorramshahr-4 missile’s capabilities. President Masoud Pezeshkian accused the U.S. of orchestrating Israel’s actions, vowing to protect Iran’s sovereignty.

Israel, locked in a two-week war with Iran since launching Operation Rising Lion on June 13, intensified its strikes on Iranian missile launchers and military targets, with over 400 deaths reported in Iran, including civilians, and 24 in Israel from Iranian retaliatory attacks.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described Iran’s nuclear program as an existential threat, praising Trump’s intervention as a historic step toward peace through strength. Israel’s earlier strikes disrupted Natanz, where uranium had been enriched to 60% purity, a level close to weapons-grade, though Iran maintains its program is peaceful. The strain on Israel’s air defenses highlights the escalating toll of this conflict, which has already devastated Gaza and Lebanon in parallel wars.

The Israel-Gaza conflict, reignited in October 2023, continues to exact a horrific human cost, with over 40,000 Palestinian deaths reported by Gaza’s health ministry and widespread destruction of infrastructure. Israel’s operations against Hamas have drawn international condemnation for their disproportionate impact on civilians, while Hamas’s rocket attacks on Israeli cities perpetuate a cycle of violence.

In Lebanon, Israel’s strikes against Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militia, have killed hundreds and displaced thousands, with Hezbollah’s rocket barrages further destabilizing the region. These conflicts, rooted in decades of unresolved grievances, underscore the futility of military solutions and the urgent need for a just resolution respecting Palestinian and Israeli rights to security and self-determination.

Russia’s role in the Iran crisis adds another layer of complexity. Foreign Minister Araghchi met President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on June 22, seeking support from a key ally that has supplied surface-to-air missile systems to protect Iranian nuclear sites. Russian politician Dmitry Medvedev criticized Trump’s strikes, arguing they undermine his peacemaker image.

Russia’s own war in Ukraine, launched in February 2022, remains a brutal stalemate, with thousands of casualties, widespread destruction, and global economic disruptions from energy and food shortages. The conflict has deepened East-West divisions, with NATO’s support for Ukraine and Russia’s alliances with Iran and China complicating efforts to resolve the Middle East crisis.

Ukraine’s resilience against Russian aggression highlights the human spirit for their independence, yet diplomacy remains elusive, with both sides entrenched in maximalist demands.

Elsewhere, tensions between India and Pakistan, fueled by historical disputes over Kashmir, persist despite diplomatic efforts. Recent border skirmishes and inflammatory rhetoric underscore the risk of escalation between these nuclear-armed neighbors. The international community, including the UN, has repeatedly called for dialogue, but mistrust and domestic political pressures hinder progress.

Similarly, China’s assertive posture toward Taiwan, marked by frequent military drills and threats of reunification by force, raises fears of a conflict that could draw in the U.S. and its allies. Taiwan’s democratic resilience and strategic importance in global supply chains make this a flashpoint with far-reaching consequences. These rivalries, like the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, reflect a world fractured by power struggles, where military might too often overshadows negotiation.

Diplomatic efforts to defuse the Iran crisis have faltered. A four-hour meeting in Geneva on June 20 between European ministers and Araghchi yielded no breakthrough, and a UN Security Council emergency session, prompted by Tehran, saw Secretary-General Antonio Guterres label the U.S. strikes a dangerous escalation.

French President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged restraint, but the absence of trust between parties stymies progress. The U.S. and Iran had been exploring talks to lift sanctions in exchange for limits on uranium enrichment, but the strikes have likely extinguished that prospect, risking a prolonged conflict with global ramifications.

The consequences of these wars and tensions extend beyond their immediate theaters. The potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz could disrupt energy markets, impacting economies worldwide, particularly in Asia. Iran’s asymmetric tactics, such as attacks on U.S. bases or proxy operations, could further destabilize the Middle East.

In the U.S., the strikes have sparked domestic debate, with some lawmakers supporting action against Iran’s nuclear program, while others, like Congressman Thomas Massie, decry the lack of congressional approval. Vice President JD Vance emphasized diplomacy as the preferred path, warning against a protracted war. Globally, public opinion, amplified by social media, increasingly demands an end to violence, with protests in major cities calling for peace and accountability.

War has proven a bankrupt strategy. In Ukraine, cities lie in ruins, and millions are displaced. In Gaza and Lebanon, entire communities have been uprooted, with no victory in sight. The Israel-Iran conflict, now escalated by U.S. involvement, threatens to engulf the region in chaos.

The India-Pakistan and China-Taiwan rivalries loom as potential catalysts for wider conflicts. Each of these crises shares a common thread: the failure of leaders to prioritize human lives over geopolitical gain. Military solutions have deepened divisions, fueled cycles of revenge, and eroded global stability.

The path forward lies in diplomacy, however arduous. For Iran and Israel, a ceasefire mediated by neutral parties, coupled with renewed nuclear talks, could halt the slide toward catastrophe. In Gaza, an immediate truce, humanitarian aid, and negotiations for a two-state solution are imperative. Lebanon requires de-escalation and economic support to prevent collapse.

Ukraine and Russia must return to the negotiating table, with international guarantees ensuring security and sovereignty. India and Pakistan need confidence-building measures to reduce border tensions, while China and Taiwan could benefit from economic interdependence to avert conflict. The UN, despite its limitations, remains a vital platform for dialogue, supported by regional powers like India, Turkey, and Brazil.

The international community must reject the glorification of war and hold leaders accountable for pursuing peace. Civil society, from activists to academics, has a role in amplifying voices for nonviolence. Economic sanctions, arms embargoes, and incentives for dialogue can shift incentives away from conflict. Education and cross-cultural exchange can erode the mistrust that fuels division. These steps, though incremental, offer hope in a world weary of bloodshed.

As the Middle East teeters on the brink, and tensions simmer globally, the choice is stark: perpetuate a cycle of destruction or forge a future of coexistence. The U.S. strikes on Iran, like the wars in Ukraine, Gaza, Lebanon, and beyond, are a clarion call to reject militarism.

Humanity deserves better than the endless toll of war. Let this moment galvanize a global movement for peace, where diplomacy triumphs over bombs, and understanding prevails over enmity.

22-06-2025

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