Who threatens the Arab world: Iran or the US and Israel?
Who threatens the Arab world: Iran or the US and Israel?
The US War Machine and Religious Rhetoric
Over the last month, US President Donald Trump and his state and war secretaries have promoted a narrative framing the United States as a white Christian European nation engaged in conflict with the non-Christian, non-white world. This ideological framing reached its peak before the attack on Iran on 28 February, when American commanders reportedly told troops the operation was a battle for “Armageddon” destined to bring about the “return of Jesus.”
Social media reports suggested that US Air Force personnel were served steak and lobster for their “last supper” prior to launching missions against Iran. The spectacle of Trump surrounded by Protestant Evangelical Christian Zionist leaders, praying for an American and Israeli victory over the non-white, non-Christian populations they targeted, underscored the administration’s propagandistic approach.
“This is a war for Armageddon and will bring about the return of Jesus.”
Political Divides and Strategic Interests
The attack highlighted a growing ideological rift within right-wing American politics. On one side, Evangelical Christians and Jewish Zionists advocate for military campaigns against Iran and the Palestinians. On the other, some right-wing Christians argue that the US is being used as a proxy for Israeli interests.
Meanwhile, left-wing critics, such as progressive Jewish Congresswoman Sara Jacobs, claim that Israel manipulated US policy to push forward the attack. However, this perspective overlooks the broader US strategy in the region, where Israel’s aggressive policies serve as a component rather than an independent force. The US aims to heighten Arab states’ opposition to Iran and encourage them to align with the US-Israel alliance.
Corporate Influence and National Identity
Right-wing analysts often point to American billionaires like Sheldon and Miriam Adelson, Bernard Marcus, and Paul Singer as evidence that Israel exerts control over Washington’s foreign policy. These figures are labeled “Israel firsters” for their decades-long support of anti-Iran campaigns. Yet, they neglect the role of major defense industries and energy firms, which stand to gain substantial profits from the war. Companies such as Palantir, Lockheed Martin, Exxon, Raytheon, and Boeing are aligned with US imperialist goals, not exclusively Israeli ones.
By attributing the conflict to Israeli “control,” right-wingers absolve the United States of responsibility. In reality, Israel’s integration into the US war machine reflects a strategic partnership, with the US outsourcing key intelligence and military functions to a reliable ally. This collaboration does not imply dominance, but rather shared objectives.
Arab Responses and Regional Silence
Not a single Arab regime publicly condemned the US-Israeli assault on Iran, with Oman being the only exception, calling it a “violation of international law.” Only the Yemeni Ansar Allah (Houthis) extended condolences for the killing of over 170 Iranian schoolgirls and staff in Minab, as well as the assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his associates.
Even Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey’s leader, expressed sympathy for Iran, while Arab governments remained conspicuously silent. Iranian officials highlighted this disparity during discussions with Egyptian and Turkish counterparts focused on de-escalating tensions. Algeria, which had long championed anti-imperialist stances but recently shifted to support Trump’s “Board of Peace” at the UN, reinforced its new alignment by refraining from criticizing the attack.
