David Hearst: War on Iran Recreates Iraq Tragedy, Destroys International Order

British writer David Hearst considered the American-Israeli war on Iran, now entering its second month, to be the culmination of strategic failure built on misinformation. Hearst pointed out in an article that the military decision was not linked to the course of negotiations, but was based on intelligence illusions about the ease of overthrowing the Iranian regime from within.\n\nThe article revealed a pivotal role for Mossad director David Barnea, who presented reports to Netanyahu claiming the agency's ability to mobilize the Iranian opposition for a coup immediately after the start of aerial bombardment. These assessments prompted US President Donald Trump to proceed with the attack, ignoring warnings from other intelligence agencies that questioned the accuracy of these predictions.\n\nOn the ground, sources confirmed that the initial aerial attack resulted in the death of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the injury of his son Mojtaba, in addition to the elimination of dozens of generals. Despite the heavy losses in the Iranian air force and defenses, Tehran began a disproportionate response that has not stopped since the first hour of the aggression.\n\nHearst quoted Mohamed ElBaradei, former Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, as saying that what is happening today is an exaggerated version of the deception that preceded the invasion of Iraq in 2003. ElBaradei explained that claims about Iran being close to possessing nuclear weapons reminded him of the lies promoted by the Bush administration about Iraqi weapons of mass destruction.\n\nElBaradei expressed his deep sorrow over the collapse of the international system, noting that Western powers have lost their moral and legal compass. He stressed that ignoring the decisions of the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court regarding Gaza and Iran sends a catastrophic message to the countries of the Global South that security can only be achieved by force.\n\nThe article touched upon recent American military movements, as flight data monitored the transfer of massive forces to Israel and Jordan in preparation for a possible ground operation. Hearst believes that this escalation reflects Trump's and Netanyahu's desire to reshape the region by brute force, far from any diplomatic or legal frameworks.\n\nIn the context of the Iranian response, Tehran succeeded in paralyzing a fifth of global oil and gas trade by targeting American bases and oil tankers and closing the Strait of Hormuz. The first weeks of the war proved that Iran is still capable of maintaining a continuous flow of missiles and drones despite the painful blows it received.\n\nElBaradei strongly criticized the assassination of political figures and negotiators, citing the recent killing of Ali Larijani in an Israeli raid, describing him as a man with whom negotiations could have been held. He considered that turning genocide and the assassination of journalists and philosophers into acceptable tools of war represents the end of the era of international law.\n\nThe article also drew attention to attempts to undermine the International Criminal Court from within, especially after the acquittal of Prosecutor Karim Khan from misconduct charges. Diplomatic sources explained that there are ongoing efforts by some parties to prevent Khan from resuming his duties, in an attempt to obstruct the prosecution of Israeli leaders.\n\nElBaradei warned that the feeling of injustice and oppression in the Arab world will inevitably lead to a new explosion, stressing that the spirit of the Arab Spring has not died. He pointed out that the absence of equality and political freedom, coupled with the persecution of peoples, are sufficient reasons for the outbreak of future revolutions that cannot be stopped.\n\nRegarding the European position, Hearst believes that Europe has marginalized itself in major conflicts from Gaza to Lebanon and Iran. He warned that the collapse of the American empire would leave Europe without military protection and without the strong international institutions it previously relied on.\n\nElBaradei described the current situation as a "war on science and logic," where the United States withdraws from international organizations and climate agreements while crises ignite. He indignantly questioned the role of the completely paralyzed UN Security Council in the face of what is happening in Ukraine, Gaza, and Iran, describing it as an empty forum.\n\nHearst concluded his article by emphasizing that Trump and Netanyahu are "burning the candle at both ends," and that the consequences of their actions will ultimately affect everyone. He pointed out that ignoring the rules of war today will open the door for future enemies to apply the same brutal rules against the West, its cities, and its hospitals.\n\nThis comprehensive regional war, according to the analysis, aims not only to change regimes but to fragment an entire geopolitical landscape and reshape it according to a unilateral vision. With continued bombing and destruction, the question remains about the exorbitant human cost that millions will pay in a conflict that may surpass in its brutality everything the region has witnessed in recent decades.\n\nHistory does not just repeat itself in the war on Iran, but it magnifies itself in the complete absence of international law.