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Attacking Iran is more complicated than most people realize.

JL;DR SUMMARY Vanessa Berg's essay delves into the complexities of initiating military action against Iran, highlighting the intricate geopolitical, economic, and strategic dilemmas involved. A way out west there was a fella, fella I want to tell you about, fella by the name of Jeff Lebowski. At least, that was the handle his lovin' parents gave him, but he never had much use for it himself. This Lebowski, he called himself the Dude. Now, Dude, that's a name no one would self-apply where I come from. But then, there was a lot about the Dude that didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. And a lot about where he lived, likewise. But then again, maybe that's why I found the place s'durned innarestin'.

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Tags

Middle EastU.S. Foreign PolicyIranMilitary StrategyGeopoliticsNationalismEconomic ImpactIslamic RepublicRegional StabilityStrait Of Hormuz

Places mentioned

Tehran, Iran
"Meanwhile, Trump has issued deadlines and moved significant U.S. military assets into the region, raising the specter of a potential military strike on Tehran."
Saudi Arabia
"Irans total area is about 1.65 million square kilometers (636,000 square miles), making it the 17th-largest country in the world and the second-largest in the Middle East after Saudi Arabia."
Yemen
"Unlike other theaters, fighting here directly threatens global economic stability. That isnt limited to the Persian Gulf; terror groups aligned with Iran, such as the Houthis in Yemen, could expand attacks into the Red Sea, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden, disrupting major global shipping lanes and compounding the economic impact, as happened after October 7th and the resulting IsraelHamas war."
China
"Another layer of complexity comes from China, Irans largest energy customer."
Israel
"For example, after Israel significantly downgraded Hezbollah in Lebanon following October 7th, the balance of power in Syria shifted, contributing to pressures on Bashar al-Assads regime that ultimately led to his overthrow in 2024."
Turkey
"Therefore, any attempt to change the political order would require dismantling not only the top leadership but the entire institutional framework a monumental task that cannot be accomplished through precision strikes alone. Ali Khamenei (right) with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoan in Tehran in 2018 (photo: khamenei.ir/Wikipedia)."

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Cairo Item ID 73979
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Retrieved 2026-01-31 05:31:08 UTC
Curated 2026-01-31 08:30:36 UTC