Against All Odds: How Iran Emerged Victorious in the 12-Day U.S.-Israeli War
In this analysis, I strive to proffer a realistic examination of the two wars waged upon Iran—the eight-year war between Iraq and Iran back in the 1980s and then the twelve-day conflict in June 2025—from a US strategic perspective. I will endeavor to demonstrate why, despite the preponderant material power of the adversaries, Iran emerged triumphant in both cases; I shall explore the catalysts and real determinants of asymmetric warfare, its economic and psychological repercussions, and the systemic factors behind the inability of the great powers to adjust to this dynamic. The Geopolitical Context and External Support During the Iran-Iraq…