A massive U.S.-Israeli strike against Iran’s military infrastructure and leadership, including the apparent killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, unfolded on Saturday, exposing a stark new reality in international relations under President Donald Trump’s second term. The operation, seemingly conducted under the guise of stalled nuclear negotiations, has left European allies scrambling and Russia issuing strong condemnations.
The attacks, which targeted military sites across Iran, culminated in reports – first from Israeli officials, then confirmed by President Trump and Iranian state media – of Khamenei’s death. The timing of the strikes, following months of lobbying by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was highlighted by a photograph circulating from Netanyahu’s office showing a book titled “Allies at War” prominently displayed on his desk as he spoke with Trump.
Gulf states, although publicly warning against military action, appear to have been engaged in a complex diplomatic dance with Washington. According to the Washington Post, Saudi Arabia, despite publicly opposing a strike, privately encouraged Trump to proceed with the operation through multiple calls with Mohammed bin Salman in the preceding month.
The operation has effectively sidelined the United States’ closest European allies. France, according to President Emmanuel Macron, was “neither informed nor involved” in the strikes. An emergency security meeting of the European Union is scheduled for Monday, more than 48 hours after the bombing commenced. Italy’s Defence Minister, Guido Crosetto, was on holiday in Dubai when the strikes began, highlighting the extent to which key European officials were caught off guard.
The strikes also triggered retaliatory attacks. Iranian missiles and drones reportedly hit targets across the Gulf, including airports, luxury hotels, and civilian infrastructure in Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Saudi Arabia has stated it reserves the right to defend itself, raising concerns of a wider regional conflict.
Russia swiftly condemned the U.S.-Israeli action, with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov issuing a statement calling for a “peaceful solution based in international law, mutual respect and balance of interests.” Although, Moscow’s ability to influence the Trump administration appears limited. Russia has seen allies in Venezuela and Syria similarly targeted in recent years, with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro captured by US forces and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad forced to flee his country after a military collapse.
Following Khamenei’s death, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi contacted his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, seeking support in de-escalating the situation. Moscow, however, has offered little beyond a strongly worded statement. According to Hanna Notte, a foreign policy analyst, the Trump administration’s disregard for established geopolitical norms has not benefited Russia. “A Trump administration…that is, in terms of military power, so much more powerful than Russia, and can do much more to travel rogue and just act as it pleases is not quality for Russia,” she said.
The United States had previously maintained it was engaged in negotiations with Tehran, but the strikes suggest those talks were a facade. Senior U.S. Officials cited a perceived threat of an imminent Iranian ballistic missile launch as justification for the operation, while an Israeli defence spokesperson described the campaign as exploiting an “operational opportunity” – targeting meetings where Khamenei was present.
Robert Harward, a retired vice-admiral, speaking from Abu Dhabi, described the situation as a “calculated gamble,” suggesting the US believes it is positioned for “much stronger relationship and much stronger stability” in the region. However, the future remains uncertain as Gulf nations convene a meeting of foreign ministers on Sunday to address the escalating crisis.
