The massive airstrikes by Israel and the United States on Iran were not entirely unexpected. Strike forces had been building up in the Persian Gulf for months. Iranian-American negotiations had stalled and offered little prospect of success. Yet the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, members of his family, and several senior Iranian officials have sent shockwaves far beyond the region.
Iran has responded with missile strikes on Israel and US facilities in the Middle East. The repercussions were immediate: disruptions to oil shipments in the Persian Gulf and instability in financial and transport infrastructure in the UAE and Qatar.
Iran may well withstand the attack. A ground invasion appears unlikely. But sustained air and missile strikes will weaken its industrial capacity, deepen its economic crisis, and further impoverish its population. Even if Tehran absorbs the current blow, more rounds may follow, unless the costs become prohibitive for all sides.
For Russia, the crisis offers hard lessons.
Lesson 1: Sanctions are rarely the final stage
The US has sanctioned Iran since 1979. Over time, the measures became broader, more coordinated, and increasingly internationalized. Washington persuaded allies and third countries to curtail Iranian oil purchases and tightened enforcement through the UN Security Council.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: rt.com
