Editor's note: Mohamed El-Bendary, a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN, is a Cairo-based writer and independent researcher. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

The confrontation between Israel and Iran, now in its second week, is escalating rapidly, with the U.S. joining the fray. On Saturday, in a dramatic turn, U.S. President Donald Trump announced on national television that American forces had struck three major Iranian nuclear sites. He described the operation as a "spectacular military success."

However, the truth is that America's support of Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu government is fostering an anti-U.S. resentment in the Arab world, with Arabs applauding Tehran's vow to retaliate to the Israeli assassination of its nuclear scientists and military commanders. The common opinion in the Arab world is that it was Israel that began the war, and the U.S. has for long desired to topple the government in Iran – in the same manner it did in Syria, Libya and Iraq – and replace it with a pro-Western regime.

Since the 1979 Iranian Revolution, that overthrew the ruling Pahlavi dynasty and established the Islamic Republic of Iran, Israel has viewed Iran as a threat, fomenting tension through covert means and backing proxy wars. In 2023, when China brokered a reconciliation between Iran and Saudi Arabia, two major powers in the Middle East with a long history of antagonism, there was alarm in Washington and Tel Aviv that they would not be able to redraw the map of the Middle East to suit their interest.

Washington and Tel Aviv should, however, realize that their attacks will not cripple Iran's advancement, including in the nuclear field. Iran, a cradle of civilization and a nation with around 90 million inhabitants, has a superb educational system and leading scientific institutions.

However, the escalation in fighting has complicated efforts – if not altogether killed hope – for reaching a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear issue. The ripple effect of the Israeli-Iranian war has placed the Middle East at a critical juncture and can push it towards a broader, more destructive war.

Only peaceful means can resolve the Iranian nuclear issue. If the U.S. had played a fair mediator in the Middle East, this conflict would not have spiraled out of control. Once the fighting stops, the International Atomic Energy Agency should subject Israel – which is not a signatory to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty – to investigation about its nuclear arsenal. Israel has never confirmed it owns nuclear weapons. Hence, Tehran may also withdraw from the treaty.

The hysteria about Iran owning nuclear weapons has been building up for decades. When I was living in the U.S. in the 1990s, I witnessed how the U.S. media falsely propagated the issue. Today the Western media is once again myopically proclaiming that Washington did not give Tel Aviv the green light to attack Tehran. They also do not discuss if Israel possesses nuclear arms.

Netanyahu had for long been planning a knockout blow to Iran. With Washington's support, his government desires to destroy Iran's progress and development. However, by attacking Iran, he has actually hindered the release of the remaining hostages held by Hamas, after using that as a pretext to widen the war and attack Lebanon and Yemen earlier.

Netanyahu has often referred to a confrontation with Iran as an "existential war" through which Israel can accomplish his "new Middle East" vision. He has employed war, beginning with the one on Gaza, as a justification for assassinating Hamas and Hezbollah leaders, destroying Palestinian refugee camps in the West Bank, eradicating infrastructure in Yemen, and ensuing a fragile Syrian state without a strong military.

Under Trump, there is no red line for Israeli attacks in the region, and this is raising the threat of a regional conflagration to an unseen level in the Middle East. But Trump's government is now facing protests similar to the "Arab Spring" protests in the past which overthrew some Arab rulers, and it would be foolish for it to get caught up in a forever war.

Only through collective international diplomacy and dialogue can this war end. This should be followed by lifting the Western sanctions on Iran and engaging in dialogue with Tehran.

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