"But as we approach the end of the year, Iran finds itself altogether without a functioning nuclear program, it having been either destroyed or buried under a mountain of rubble by the U.S.'s MOP bombs in June. The nation also lacks an effective air defense following Israeli attacks on its missile launchers and anti-aircraft batteries, and it's still grappling with the loss of its top military commanders and nuclear scientists - they were assassinated in those same Israeli attacks in the 12-day war between the two adversaries."
"If that wasn't enough bad news, Iran is still dealing with its previous annus horribilis, which brought it the loss of Syria, its closest ally in the Arab world and a land bridge to its closest "resistance" partner: Hezbollah in Lebanon, which itself lost its top commander, Hassan Nasrallah, in an Israeli strike on his bunker at the end of 2024. In July of that year, Hamas, another "resistance" partner, lost one of its top leaders, Ismail Haniyeh, to Israeli assassination - in a Tehran guest house located on the grounds of one of the Shah's former palaces, no less."
Iran entered 2025 with some tentative optimism about renewed U.S. engagement, but the country now faces simultaneous strategic and economic catastrophes. Its nuclear program was destroyed or buried under rubble by U.S. MOP bombs in June, leaving no functioning nuclear capability. Israeli strikes crippled missile launchers and anti-aircraft batteries and assassinated top military commanders and nuclear scientists during a 12-day war. Syria was lost as an ally, Hezbollah lost Hassan Nasrallah, and Hamas lost Ismail Haniyeh to assassination, leaving only the Houthis as a limited partner. The currency has plunged to historic lows amid an unprecedented economic downturn.
Read at Big Think
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