For a world that prides itself on progress, we seem remarkably committed to repeating our worst mistakes. Turns out “never again” was less of a promise and more of a suggestion. After recent tensions involving Israel and the United States, global concerns have risen, with more than a dozen countries now involved—directly or indirectly—in what some fear could become our generation’s world war.
The path to Conflict
Since the mid-1950s, Iran and the United States have been at odds following what is often referred to as the “original sin” of their relationship: the 1953 Iranian coup d’etat. During this event, the CIA helped overthrow Iran’s democratically elected Prime Minister, Mohammad Mossadegh, and reinstated Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. This intervention was largely driven by Mossadegh’s decision to nationalize Iran’s oil, which threatened the economic interests of both the United States and the United Kingdom.
Although the United States and Iran maintained a working relationship for a period afterward, their connection was permanently altered, shifting from uneasy allies to long-term adversaries. This shift was exacerbated and further cemented in 1979 during the Islamic Revolution, when more than 60 Americans were taken hostage to send a message that the days of U.S. interference in the Iranian government and politics were over.
The coup of the fifties laid the groundwork for the Iran Hostage Crisis and secured an unstable relationship for decades to come. The recent events of this ongoing conflict were initiated by airstrikes on Iran, sanctioned by the United States and Israel on Feb. 28. The countries’ joint efforts resulted in nearly 900 strikes in the first 12 hours alone. The attacks mostly targeted Iran’s military infrastructure, but also civilian sites such as a girls’ school and a dairy farm. This resulted in thousands of civilian lives lost.
The war narrative
In the aftermath of these strikes, the United States has offered several explanations for its actions, though these objectives have varied since the original strike. President Donald Trump maintains that this war was the best decision for the American people. Initially, he framed the goal as empowering the Iranian people to take control of their government, later emphasizing the destruction of Iran’s nuclear weapons program. He has also argued that Iran’s long-range missiles pose a threat to U.S. allies in Europe and that action was necessary, claiming Iran would have attacked first, had the United States not acted.
However, it’s not just the reasoning behind the war that has shifted; the expected timeline has as well. Trump originally stated it would take four weeks or less, then followed up by saying it could take five weeks or longer. Ultimately, Trump stated that the war would end upon complete surrender, when he “feels it in his bones.” Critics argue this shift shows a lack of planning for the conflict and its aftermath, with American citizens echoing concerns: over half of registered voters stated they opposed the war.
The United States wasn’t the only country involved in the strikes and creation of this conflict. Many people believe the U.S. only attacked because Israel wanted to. Benjamin Netanyahu has framed Iran as the backbone of all threats to Israel, essentially relaying that if Iran is destroyed, so are all threats that the state of Israel faces. This embrace of Iran’s perceived threat conveniently serves as a deflection from Israel’s occupation of Palestine, leaving its people stuck in a never-ending purgatory. Critics also point to media restrictions during wartime and the shaping of public narratives as factors that may explain why over 90% of Israeli Jews support the war efforts, a drastic difference from the majority of Americans who oppose it.
Meanwhile, Iran has responded with its own messaging and actions. Since the war began, there has been no direct communication between the U.S. and Iran, just deliveries through mediators. Iran’s foreign minister, Araghchi, has asserted that Tehran is not seeking war and is seeking a permanent end to its conflicts, including the idea that Iran is seeking reparations for the damages caused by continuous attacks from the U.S. and Israel.
What we know as war looms
What began as a targeted conflict has quickly expanded beyond Iran itself. In retaliation against these attacks, Iran has struck neighboring countries that host U.S. bases, successfully closing the Strait of Hormuz, which is a passage for a fifth of the global oil supply. At this point, attacks and alliances from all three key players have drawn in over a dozen other countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Greece, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Cyprus, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Oman, with about 20 total countries involved at this point.
The consequences of this escalation are already being felt. In just a month, over 3,000 people have been killed across the Middle East, and an estimated 25,000 have been injured, further establishing this war as costly. However, this war has not only threatened civilian lives but also their livelihoods, damaging societies both physically and economically, with long-term consequences for the global cost of living.
How will this affect you
The price of oil has increased by 50% since the war began, leading to dramatically higher fuel prices and shifting the cost onto civilians around the world. The average cost of gasoline in the United States was just under three dollars a month ago and is now nearly four, with no signs of stopping. Changes in oil production and transportation routes can influence everyday expenses, from gas prices to food costs, demonstrating how interconnected the global economy has become. Grain products and livestock feed will be hit hardest, limiting the ability to produce cereals, bread, meat, and dairy products. U.S. farmers are already warning Americans to prepare for empty food shelves this spring.
We’ve been here before
This pattern of escalation is not without precedent. The beginning of this war eerily mirrors the early stages of both World War I and World War II, not because the events are identical, but, in all three situations, it was one event that spiraled out of control. All it took was an assassination or an isolated invasion to rope entire nations into the conflict. The strikes on Iran have already begun, triggering a similar sequence with 20 total countries involved at this point.
History makes one thing clear: the beginning of a war is rarely predictable and rarely contained, leaving civilians to bear the weight of government actions. How many more innocent lives have to be taken before those in power choose peace over pride?