No to Attritional War
No to attritional war, the end of any war of any dimension is peace and reconciliation.
Historical experiences have shown that the successful side in military operations has not always been the one that achieved victory.
At least two contemporary examples are Japan and Germany, which were defeated in World War II but can actually be considered the real victors of World War II today.
While the Soviet Union, one of the two main victorious forces of the world war, no longer even exists and has become a part of history.
Therefore, today those who are trying to involve Iran in any way possible in a cycle of attritional military warfare must answer the question of what the purpose of such a plan and program is. If, by an unlikely assumption, Iran can overcome its fully prepared and dominant rivals, what significant achievement will it ultimately have?
Iran’s strategy throughout history has been to counter the excessive demands of colonial enemies and defend against attacks on Iran’s dignity, honor, and territorial integrity. This strategy is unassailable and unchangeable.
However, the ultimate goal of defending Iran’s security, territorial integrity, and independence is to create the necessary and sufficient space, foundation, and capacity for the country’s development and progress. And certainly, when such a goal exists, what ultimately guarantees it is peace and tranquility, not war and conflict.
In the current situation, Israel is seeking to change Iran’s defensive approach and strategy and turn it into a kind of attritional military conflict.
Such a strategy is a completely aligned goal with the interests and benefits of this country for Netanyahu because
1. An attritional war with Iran repairs the country’s internal disorder and paves the way for attracting and injecting military and political support. 2. It provides suitable coverage for Tel Aviv’s internal political crises and challenges. 3. It reduces the attention and pressure of global public opinion regarding Israel’s actions in Gaza and Lebanon.
However, this attritional war will have opposite results for Iran: 1. It reduces Iran’s financial and economic power. 2. It changes Iran’s political image from a country that has always had a defensive stance and sought peace for the world and defended the oppressed to an aggressive force. 3. It leads to the emergence of internal divisions, dissatisfaction, and crises. Undoubtedly, the approach that can align with national interests is one where Iran can, as in the past, protect its defensive strategy. The wise and principled statements of the leader of the Islamic Republic, made after Israel’s attack on several Iranian military facilities and bases, show that contrary to the expectations of the designers of a dangerous attritional war, the leadership of the Islamic Republic is determined to preserve the principled defense strategy and avoid falling into an attritional war.
In Ayatollah Khamenei’s statements, there is an important element that is very significant, which is entrusting decision-making to experts and officials based on national interests and benefits. The signs of this rational and correct stance can be well seen in the active diplomacy of the government, which has led many countries in the world and the region to condemn Israel’s violation of Iran’s territorial sovereignty and criticize Netanyahu’s warmongering.
Undoubtedly, Iran will respond appropriately to any aggression relying on all its capabilities, and this is a popular and national desire, but this response should not be merely launching missiles and beating the drums of war.
Today, Iran needs national solidarity, public satisfaction, and global cooperation, and most importantly, to extinguish the attritional war.
Peace and tranquility, just as they are a deadly poison and reveal Netanyahu’s political and power-seeking intentions, are a window for Iran to show its interest in lasting peace.
The ignorant temptations of some war and sanction profiteers and Israel’s provocations should not lead to the ignition of a war that benefits Israel and leaves a legacy of damage for us.
