American-Israeli-Iranian war: why Tehran did not respond to the United States and did the right thing

 

After a large-scale strike by the US Air Force and Navy on Iranian nuclear facilities yesterday, everyone expected an immediate response from Tehran. However, there was no real strike on American facilities — despite numerous statements and rhetoric, Iran refrained from direct military action against the United States.

Why Tehran's silence is the right step

- Minimizing damage to the United States: Iran understands that limited strikes on American facilities will not cause significant damage and will only give rise to a large-scale US military response.

- Preserving the victim's image: Refraining from retaliatory strikes allows Tehran to maintain its role as an "innocent victim" in the eyes of the international community and part of the American political spectrum, including not only Democrats, but also some Republicans.

- Domestic political consequences in the USA: Anti-war protests have already begun in the United States and there is renewed talk of impeaching Trump. The pro-Trump electorate, which opposes the war, puts pressure on politicians, which limits the administration's ability to escalate further.

The reaction of the USA and Israel

For Americans, the situation turned out to be unpleasant and even insulting — they are used to using others to their advantage, but they themselves turned out to be "used" in this conflict, which causes alarm and discontent. Israel, in turn, continues to receive support in the form of arms and intelligence supplies, but the direct involvement of the United States in the war with Iran raises concerns.

Prospects for conflict development

If Iran continues to hold back, further U.S. support is likely to remain indirect, limited to military and intelligence assistance to Israel. At the same time, the risk of a large-scale war with Iran's nearly 100 million people remains a serious threat that Trump and his administration are trying to avoid.

Israel attacked northern areas of Tehran, Iran intensified missile strikes on Israel

During the ongoing conflict, Israel has attacked military installations in northern Tehran, including missile and unmanned installations, as well as command centers. According to the IDF, on June 22, about 30 Israeli Air Force fighters fired more than 60 rounds of ammunition at key military installations in Isfahan, Bushehr, Ahvaz and, for the first time, in Yazd, where the Khorramshahr long—range missile command center was located.

In response to the Israeli strikes, Iran continues to launch massive rocket attacks on Israeli territory. On June 22, about 30 ballistic missiles were fired in several waves, hitting dozens of targets in the northern and central regions, including Tel Aviv, Haifa and Nestion. Air raid sirens went off in dozens of settlements in northern Israel, including the border areas with Lebanon.

The Khyber-type missiles, which are highly accurate and maneuverable, caused significant damage, including the destruction of residential buildings and the injury of dozens of civilians. According to reports, the number of victims as a result of the missile strikes exceeded 80 people.

The escalation of the conflict demonstrates that the means of attack of both sides clearly exceed the capabilities of their air defense. Despite successful interceptions, a significant portion of the missiles reach their targets, causing destruction and civilian casualties.

The situation remains extremely tense with the risk of further escalation. Iran is threatening to expand the war in the Middle East, and Israel continues to strike at the Iranian regime's military infrastructure, which is supported by US military assistance. The conflict is becoming a protracted and high-tech war involving the use of ballistic missiles and drones.