America must have underestimated Iran

Of course, Israel is our friend forever, and America is our ally. These are irreversible constants that can never be denied. But the realpolitik on the ground is showing to all and sundry that Iran is no pushover either. Iran is fighting back with honor and dignity. Just like Ukraine which is standing up to Russia.

Iran is among the top 16 strongest military powers in the whole world, which include: USA, Russia, China, India, South Korea, France, Japan, UK, Turkey, Italy, Brazil, Germany, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Israel. Number 16 is Iran followed by Australia, Spain, and Egypt. Number 20 is Ukraine. Iran has a population of 88,386,937 with a fighting force of 580,000 armed and fighting personnel. It has a massive arsenal of ballistic missiles and drones and its people and armed combatants are willing and ready to die for Allah and for the nation.

Iran's military strategy focuses on asymmetric warfare which utilizes the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps or IRGC and their regional paramilitary forces. Iran's greatest strategic advantage is its unquestioned supremacy, domination and virtual ownership and control of the Strait of Hormuz, which enables it to disrupt the global supply chain of one third of the world's oil supply. The Iranian regime commands one of the world's largest missile arsenals, including Sejil missiles with a range of no less than 2,500 kilometers. It could hit Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, and other U.S. allies.

Iran's military forces are divided into the regular uniformed and mainstream combatants and the IRGC supported by more than one million Basej volunteer paramilitary forces. Added to these are hundreds of thousands of women and children who act as spies, lookouts, and informers. These forces act in flawless coordination and mutual support and reinforcement and they are ready to offer their own lives for God and country. Although their weapons may not be as sophisticated as those of the American and Israeli forces, the will and patriotism of the Iranians make them a truly formidable enemy to the U.S. and Israel.

The strategy of Iranian leaders includes a military plan to fight proxy wars from multiple fronts and in various locations inside and outside the country. Its regime leadership has built up a wide array of networks with satellite support groups like the Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and a number of trained militia partisans in Iraq, Syria, and Gaza. The Iranian combatants have mastered the art and science of warfare and it has deeply indoctrinated its warriors to fight till the last drop of blood.

Iran's tremendous arsenal of Kaibar missiles is capable of hitting a 1,500-kilometer range. Iran then can control the entire Persian Gulf from southern edges of Saudi Arabia to the tip of Oman. While armed hostilities are ongoing, Iran's mass production of Shahed 136 drones is uninterrupted day and night in their underground production areas. Iran is also being supported by both China and Russia against America.

The Iranian Navy uses very fast attack craft and small submarines with swarm tactics capability in the Strait of Hormuz, thereby enabling the regime to control the strategic passage as its naval forces can put up a challenge to larger naval forces with conventional offensive and defensive war capabilities. Iran is no pushover. It is number 16 among the 20 strongest military powers in the whole world.

The way I see it, without a diplomatic solution, the war in the Middle East has more chances of escalating rather than deescalating because Iran is capable of protracted warfare. America should rethink its overall goals in the region and start to plan on the premise of Iran being a worthy enemy. President Donald Trump has been unable to rally massive support from NATO and the EU. But Iran has drawn unsolicited support from Russia and China.

It is time for America to take a second hard look at its strategic goals and overall master plan for the Middle East. Trump is facing a midterm election come November and Netanyahu is being challenged in the coming elections for the Knesset. Israel is our friend but it is fighting too many wars. America is our ally but President Trump is not America.