Pathway to Sustainable Peace in the Iranian/Israeli Conflict. June 14, 2025

 The conflict between Iran and Israel remains one of the most complex and volatile geopolitical issues in the Middle East. 

For those unfamiliar with the conflict between the two nation-states, despite their lack of shared borders, the issue is straightforward. 

Israel regards Iran’s overt hostility as an existential threat, fearing that the development and possession of nuclear weapons by Iran would enable the potential destruction of Israel with the press of a button. 

Consequently, Israel is driven to adopt a proactive security posture aimed at preventing Iran’s nuclear advancement by all means necessary, including covert operations such as targeted assassinations of Iranian nuclear scientists and military leaders.

This underlying tension constitutes the core of the conflict. In the absence of a comprehensive peace agreement, targeted killings and military actions on both sides are expected to continue. This reality shapes the perspective and proposed resolutions discussed in this essay.

Learning from History

Preventing a full-blown war between Israel and Iran for sustainable peace and development is not impractical. However, the parties, specifically Iran, must be open to sacrifices that have engendered peace elsewhere. It calls for preempting the justification underscoring Israeli preemptive strikes. The mechanics of that understanding are what this essay is about.

There was a time when compromise and tolerance were not mistaken for weakness in global peace and conflict management. What happened to the spirit of the Camp David Accords, when Egypt and Israel, under the leadership of Anwar Sadat and Menachem Begin, brokered peace with the help of U.S. President Jimmy Carter?

That moment was more than diplomacy; it was a testament to what visionary leadership could achieve in the face of long-standing conflict. "Return my land that you captured during the 6-Day War, and I will recognise your right to exist." Period.

Today, Egypt is one of the most peaceful, economically developed, and technologically advanced nations in the developing world. And next to Israel, it receives the highest aid or support from the United States of America.

The Exigency of Sacrifice

Now that the threat of war between Israel and Iran grows more real by the day, we must ask: where are those minds now? Where is the statesmanship willing to put people above pride?

Iran must tread carefully. It stands at a crossroads, facing decisions that could lead to renewal or destruction. Yes, renewal or self-destruction.

The case of President Saddam Hussein is a stark reminder. Though in reality Iraq had no weapons of mass destruction, what the global community, and even UN inspectors, did not fully grasp was that Saddam Hussein's refusal to allow unrestricted inspections stemmed from a strategic calculation: he did not want his primary adversary, Iran, to discover the true extent of Iraq's military weakness, especially when compared to Iran's more advanced capabilities. He paid for the miscalculation and let his country become impoverished.

That ambiguity, combined with political brinkmanship, opened the door to the 2003 American invasion, following the twin-tower bombing instigated by Saudi dissidents. The consequences were catastrophic. Saddam and his sons are gone. Iraq has never fully recovered.

Another cautionary tale is Hamas. For years, it operated behind the shield of Gaza’s civilian population, launching rockets into Israel without regard for consequences. Now, nearly two years into a full-scale conflict, Gaza is in ruins. Thousands of Palestinians are dead. And Hamas — once a powerful voice — is likely to have no seat at the table in any postwar Gaza reconstruction or administration. 

Consequently, the Palestinian people are paying the highest price. Economically and militarily, they are worse off today than when the conflict began. The blame lies not only with Israel’s overwhelming force but with Hamas’s short-sighted provocations, including kidnappings and indiscriminate attacks.

My position here is not a justification for Israel’s destruction of Gaza or the unbearable suffering of innocent Palestinians. However, for those who claim to lead in the name of the people, there comes a time when fighting must give way to foresight. 

The same applies to Hezbollah in Lebanon. If you cannot fight a conventional war, do not fight from behind civilians. The use of human shields is neither a tactic of resistance nor one of honour. It is a grave moral failing. For years, Lebanon has not known peace or progress - a casualty of its hospitality.

Look to Egypt. Look to Jordan. They choose the path of peace, and their people are better for it. 

I’ve had the pleasure of meeting a few Iranians, and I must say, they are quintessentially urbane and remarkably hospitable. They deserve a meaningful presence in today’s modern world, one that is full of opportunities for renewal and new beginnings.

Rationalisation or Cost-Benefit Analysis.

"Every gambler knows that the secret to survive is knowing what to throw away and knowing what to keep 'cause every hand's a winner and every hand's a loser. And the best that you can hope for is to die in your sleep." An Excerpt from "The Gambler" by Kenny Rogers.

Leadership must be guided, not only by ideology, but also by reality. Know your limitations. Know when to stop. Know when to choose peace. And know when to be recalcitrant, even though realities have proven that to be a loser.

Iran still has a choice. It can step back from the brink. It can stop giving the U.S. and Israel reasons to justify war. If the issue is nuclear weapons - no doubt, it is - then meet international demands with transparency and cooperation as permitted by the U.N. and global observers. This is not surrender. It is a strategy. It is survival.

Iran is a nation of extraordinary potential. With vast oil reserves, a rich cultural legacy, and an educated population, it has every ingredient for greatness. However, it must make a sacrifice. Let go of aggression. Be the next UAE. Invest in your people. Separate religion from state. If Iran focuses on human development and modernisation, it could quadruple its standard of living within a decade.

Stop offering the world reasons to justify isolation or attack. Strategic compromise is not a sign of weakness; it is a path to greatness. Let the well-being of your people, not the sound of missiles, be the benchmark of your strength.

Conclusion

Now is the time for Iran, Israel, and the United States leadership to rediscover and adopt the wisdom of those great minds who once chose peace over conflict and sustainable development over the ruins of war.

June 14, 2025