Global Media Reflects on the Consequences of the War Against Iran

Since the start of the US and Zionist regime's military aggression against Iran, not only have the operation's declared objectives failed to materialize, but, as acknowledged by Western officials and American media, the aggressors have been dealt a strategic defeat.

Ambassador Arjan of the International Group: From the beginning of the military aggression of the United States and the Zionist regime against Iran, not only the stated goals of this operation were not achieved, but also, according to the acknowledgment of the Western authorities and the American media, a strategic stalemate and field and political defeats were imposed on the aggressors. This war, which started with widespread attacks and killing of civilians, including innocent students, quickly gained wide human, security and economic dimensions and provoked different reactions in the international media.

The world's media, each with their own approaches, have tried to shape the narrative of this war; Examining these reflections can provide a clearer picture of the true state of the war and its prospects.

Estimates by Moody's Analytics show that the Iran war has added about $265 billion to American consumer spending since the conflict began in late February. A figure equivalent to approximately 2,000 dollars for each average household. The CNN report says that the increase in energy prices, borrowing costs and the price of air transportation have put additional pressure on households that were already struggling with inflation.

Most of this pressure comes from the increase in fuel prices. According to Mark Zandi, the increase in energy costs, including gasoline, diesel and home heating, has added about $1,100 to the cost of a typical household. With current prices, this figure increases by another 50 dollars every week. The average price of US gasoline has reached $4.34 per gallon; While this figure was $2.98 before the war. Several months of disruption in the Strait of Hormuz also disrupted the transfer of oil, fuel and liquid natural gas from the Persian Gulf and increased the cost of energy supply.

Another part of the economic pressure comes from the increase in borrowing costs. Moody's estimates that rising interest rates added about $360 to the average household's spending. The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate has reached 7.4%, and the cost of car loans and credit card debt has also increased. At the same time, wage growth hit a five-year low in September, and real wages fell in most of the months since the war began.

The aviation industry is also facing the increase in the price of jet fuel. In response to this situation, companies have eliminated some low-profit routes and raised ticket prices and freight charges. Air ticket prices have increased by 23% in August compared to the previous year.

On the other hand, the Pentagon estimated the cost of the war as of September 45.1 billion, although this figure does not include the cost of repairing damaged US facilities in the region. According to a CNN poll, only 27% of Americans approve of Trump's economic performance.

The New York Times reported that 74 Democratic members of the US House of Representatives have written to Pete Hegst, the Secretary of Defense, demanding an explanation of US airstrikes in Iran and the reported cases of civilian deaths. This action has taken place on the eve of mid-term congressional elections and, according to the newspaper, it may become part of their surveillance program if the Democrats win a majority in one or both houses.

One of the main themes of the letter is the September 1st attack on a wedding ceremony in Cohestak, in which five people, including three adults and two children, were killed and about 70 people were injured. The Pentagon has not accepted responsibility for this attack and said that the US Central Command is investigating it. On the other hand, the New York Times video review has concluded that the wedding ceremony was targeted by a bomb that was dropped by American forces during the attacks on southern Iran.

The representatives have demanded clarification on whether the US military carried out the attack, what was the target, and what was the result of the investigation into this incident. They also demanded more information about an attack on an elementary school in southern Iran in the early hours of the war, which The New York Times reported left at least 175 dead, and another attack in Lamard on February 28.

In addition to human casualties, this letter also emphasizes the lack of transparency and accountability of the US Ministry of Defense. Accepting responsibility and investigating mistakes can improve the military's performance, while failing to do so can backfire, the representatives say.

Reuters, citing two senior Iranian officials, reported that Tehran has changed its tactics to target vessels violating Iran's declared restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz and plans to expand the scope of operations to the Gulf of Oman and waters beyond. According to these officials, the new strategy started about 10 days ago and its aim is to increase the pressure on the United States, keep the global oil price high and influence the mid-term congressional elections in November.

Before the war, the Strait of Hormuz was the transit point for about one-fifth of the world's oil and liquid natural gas trade. Threats and attacks have severely reduced traffic on the waterway and further disrupted energy markets, Reuters said. In the 48 hours before the publication of the report, at least five incidents related to commercial ships were recorded in the region; Among the incidents related to drone attacks. Data from the International Maritime Organization and reports from maritime security sources indicate a resurgence of attacks.

Iranian officials have said that the range of attacks will expand and that ships that violate Tehran's restrictions will not be safe even outside the Strait of Hormuz. One of them has emphasized that Iran will not allow Donald Trump to reduce the price of oil before the election and compared this confrontation to a "chess game".

Axios has reported that Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump have discussed the possibility of carrying out large-scale joint military operations against Iran's military and nuclear targets before the Israeli elections and the US mid-term elections. This report was published citing two American officials, an Israeli official and an informed source; However, the White House has denied the claim of talks about resuming the war and has said that the US will not attack Iran before the mid-term elections.

There is disagreement within the US government about this decision. According to Axios' sources, Secretary of War Pete Hegst and senior CENTCOM commanders support resuming strikes, while most Trump advisers favor continued economic sanctions and civilian pressure. Trump also appeared inclined to attack at first, but later became more hesitant, the report said.

Election consequences are one of the important factors of these calculations. According to the sources, Iran's possible reaction by firing ballistic missiles can affect the Israeli elections or even lead to its postponement. On the other hand, resuming the war may cost Trump politically; Because it puts the unpopular war back in the voters' attention and it leads to the possibility of an increase in the price of gasoline.

At the same time, Qatari mediators are still waiting for Iran's response to the American counter offer to end the war; A proposal that includes nuclear demands. Axios writes that the negotiations are still in an uncertain state.

In an article written by Abdullah Bandar Al-Otaibi, a professor of international relations at Qatar University, Al Jazeera emphasized that the security of the Persian Gulf countries is interdependent and that any attack on sovereignty, vital facilities or maritime routes has consequences beyond the borders of the target country.

According to the author, the countries of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council should strengthen political and security coordination while maintaining their decision-making independence and defending their sovereignty. Diversifying foreign relations, expanding economic cooperation, and using diplomacy and mediation can increase the maneuvering power of these countries. In this framework, military deterrence and political negotiation complement each other; Defense of the country should not lead to escalation of tension, and dialogue should not mean ignoring the violation of sovereignty.

The author also considers the security of energy, food, water, communication and infrastructure as the pillars of the region's security. He emphasizes the importance of Qatar's position in supplying the world with gas, strengthening the non-oil economy and supporting Palestine, and calls for the transformation of the common interests of the Persian Gulf countries into sustainable cooperation.

In an article, Rayi Elyoum wrote: Today's international order has put power before law and has remained powerless against Israel's aggression, especially against the Palestinians. According to him, Arab countries have lost the opportunity to form real strategic alliances by getting caught up in internal disputes and pointless wars. While Israel, with the support of the United States, pursues goals beyond the initial plan of the "New Middle East".

The author warns that the new project is no longer limited to the Middle East and its scope extends to Eurasia and the borders of China. In the meantime, Iran and the resistance axis bear the main burden of confronting Israel and America; While Russia and China avoid direct confrontation with a cautious and indirect approach.

The author emphasizes that the regional resistance has prevented Israel from advancing towards the heart of Eurasia and has bought an opportunity for China. He also emphasizes that supporting Palestine has prevented the complete destruction of the cause of this nation. The conclusion of the article is that the inaction of the Arab countries and the slowness of the reaction of the eastern powers imposes the main cost of this confrontation on the people of the region.

Al-Mayadeen wrote in an article: After years of aggression and siege of Yemen, Saudi Arabia is now caught in a strategic deadlock. Saudi military attacks since 2015, massive civilian casualties and economic blockade, could not surrender Sana'a. Also, Yemen's support for Gaza and the intensification of Riyadh's military and economic pressures have forced Sana'a to adopt a policy of reciprocation.

According to this analysis, Yemen's operation against oil facilities, airports and shipping routes of Saudi Arabia has put pressure on oil exports, economic income and investment security of this country. The author says that in order to get out of the crisis, Riyadh has resorted to options such as mobilizing internal forces, forming regional alliances and buying American weapons, but these measures are unable to change the balance of power.

In the end, the article emphasizes that the security of Saudi Arabia is not provided by buying weapons and relying on America and Israel; Rather, ending the siege, stopping aggression and accepting the requirements of a just peace with Yemen is the only way to reduce the growing costs of this crisis.

Rashatoudi, quoted by the Guardian newspaper, wrote that the recent attacks of Yemeni forces on Saudi Arabia are a sign of increasing instability in the Persian Gulf region. According to this report, the missile attack on King Khalid International Airport left at least 13 dead and 300 injured.

This report emphasizes that the war between America and Israel against Iran has also involved the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf in its consequences. Attacks on military infrastructure, energy facilities and water softeners, along with closing schools and disrupting flights, have put pressure on the security and economy of these countries. According to the Guardian, the developments of the war have provided the ground for Yemeni forces to advance and increase the strategic importance of the Bab al-Mandab Strait. These forces are not just tools of Iran and pursue their own internal goals and regional disputes.

Referring to the decrease in the reliability of the American security umbrella, this report warns that Saudi Arabia may be involved in a long and costly war. Washington's refusal to extend military aid to Riyadh to deal with Yemeni forces has also added to the complexity of the situation. According to the Guardian, the Persian Gulf countries are caught between ineffective old alliances and new enmities.

The Chinese newspaper Global Times wrote in a report that the escalation of conflicts in Yemen and the spread of attacks on the infrastructure of Saudi Arabia have changed the regional security equations and made the negotiations between Iran and the United States more complicated.

According to this report, the attacks on Riyadh and Dammam airports and Saudi oil facilities indicate the change in the scope of Yemeni forces' targets from military centers to economic and civilian infrastructure. This strategy can influence regional decisions by increasing the costs of war for Riyadh.

The Global Times warned that the spread of conflicts also threatens energy security and global trade; Because the Straits of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab, two important routes for the transfer of energy and goods, are facing security pressures at the same time. The increase in oil prices, transportation costs, and flight cancellations are among the consequences of this situation.

This newspaper also pointed to the joint defense agreement between Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan and the possibility of the US participating in operations against the Yemeni forces and wrote that such developments increase the risk of the war spreading.

According to this media, the phone call between the foreign ministers of Iran and Saudi Arabia to discuss ways to reduce tension shows that diplomatic channels are still active. Emphasizing the displacement of more than 200,000 people in Yemen, the report called the military solution the cause of the escalation of the crisis and called for the parties to return to the negotiating table.