Campus conversations about the Middle East are increasingly shaped by events far beyond university walls. Iran’s expanding power and its role in fueling conflict across the region raise serious concerns for global security and American policy. These issues often surface in campus dialogue, sometimes influenced by foreign narratives that obscure the facts. For students who care about academic honesty and responsible activism, understanding the realities behind Iran’s actions is essential.
Israel and the United States are worried about Iran and her “Axis of Resistance”, an Iran-led coalition that absorbed a major blow in the last two years. Yet Iran and her partners still cause quite a concern across the middle East.
The Gaza Front: Hamas Tactics and Media Influence
In the Gaza Strip, Israel strives to defeat Hamas and to save the hostages while providing basic needs to the Palestinian population there. It is a tough fight, mainly in an urban area. Hamas refuses to give up its arms, uses the Palestinian population as human shields and try to manipulate the media, including by using its supporters in the United States, such as in campuses.
The Nuclear Question: Iran’s Advancing Capabilities
Iran is getting closer to producing nuclear weapons. If Iran has this devastating arsenal, it would be an enormous threat not only to Israel but to U.S. troops who are deployed near Iran and U.S. civilians who live in the Middle East. In Israel alone, there are about 500,000 of them.
Risk of Regional Arms Race
Iran develops intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which increases the threat Iran imposes on the United States and other states if Iran holds nuclear weapons. Another very serious problem is that Iran with nuclear weapons might start a nuclear arms race in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia said publicly that if Iran has nuclear weapons Saudi Arabia would get them too. Other Arab states like Egypt will try to do the same. It will make the region much more volatile and dangerous. There are ongoing talks between Iran and the United States that might fail or lead to an agreement that Iran might breach later, by trying to produce nuclear weapons.
Diplomatic Dead Ends and the Possibility of Military Action
If there is no agreement or Iran will breach it then Israel and / or the United States might eventually decide there is no choice but to attack in Iran. The Trump administration increased the economic pressure on Iran and also deployed U.S. Air Force’s B– 52 heavy bombers within striking distance from Iran, in the Indian Ocean Island of Diego Garcia. The raid in Iran could be quite a limited raid, aimed only at Iran’s nuclear program. Iran might retaliate but then Iran would absorb more attacks, so to begin with Iran might be careful about her steps. The Iranian regime would not want to jeopardize its own survival. Even if Iran strikes back at Israel, the latter will be willing to take this risk due to the huge danger Iran imposes, if Iran has nuclear weapons.
Iran’s Proxy Strategy Across the Region
Iran tries to destabilize Jordan and to send from Jordan weapons to the West Bank, to support attacks against Israelis. In Iraq there are pro-Iranian militias that fired at Israel during the war, but they stopped, for now. Other concerns are the Houthis in Yemen who continue to fire missiles towards Israel, which force many in Israel to look for cover. The Israeli air defense is very effective, but it is not perfect so sometimes missiles are not intercepted. Israel strikes back in Yemen, but it was not enough to convince the Houthis to stop firing at her.
Hezbollah Setback and Risk of a Northern Front
In Lebanon, a major Iranian partner, Hezbollah absorbed a serious blow in the war, and now this terror group is trying to recover after losing its leadership and most of its arsenal. Hezbollah still poses a certain threat to Israel, which requires the latter to be ready, including for a surprise attack. If Hezbollah invades Israel, as Hamas did on October 7, 2023, or opens fire on a large scale, Israel will launch a massive air, land and sea offensive aiming at destroying Hezbollah or at least to annihilate what was left of its weapons. This collision might be intense and costly for both sides.
