The embrace of militarism is driven in part by Israel’s rapid economic growth and the expansion of its hi-tech military prowess.
Donald Trump is more than delighted because --
Khamenei’s death is also a mega setback for Russian allies across the world.
Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro was allied with Moscow but he has been captured. Moreover, Bashar al-Assad, a Russian client, was also forced to flee Syria after his military collapsed in 2025.
Is it surprising then that Trump has also signalled that the US may seek to carry out a “friendly takeover” of another Russian ally -- Cuba ??
While the world is talking about Donald Trump, perhaps the man of the hour is Benjamin Netanyahu.
He has presided over that economic expansion and the military technology boom for much of the last three decades, and so is credited in part for both by many voters.
For Israel's Prime Minister, there are two possible benefits that might be derived: a blow to Iran, and the possibility that this might tip the scales and usher him to victory in the elections.
Netanyahu does not draw any distinction between the strategic aspect and the political aspect. There is another take away.
Both Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu seem to share a world vision that substitutes military superiority, targeted killings and the prospect of constant war for international relations, negotiations and lasting treaties.
Khamenei’s assassination was a spectacular display of their combined military and espionage strength. By contrast, peace treaties with Jordan and Egypt, which brought lasting stability with countries once considered bitter enemies, are rarely celebrated by Israel’s current political leaders.
Those pacts’ crucial role in Israeli life was underlined in this war when the two countries offered the only route home for Israelis trapped outside the country when airspace was closed to civilian flights.
Among other points to be taken from the ongoing war is that this conflict has exposed the new rules of geopolitics.
There may be strained alliances, unfettered militaries and also importantly Washington has regained its appetite for regime change.
Trump's objectives could be regime change. The White House cultivated such goals earlier too. But what is crucial is Benjamin Netanyahu has also developed a taste for that.
Getting Iran's Supreme leader's blood is a real case of tasting blood. It's a big milestone achieved by the leadership in Tel Aviv.
Nevertheless such options risk dragging the region into an uncertain and lengthy confrontation with fallout extending far beyond Iran. It is arguably agreed that only Israel stands to benefit from the resulting chaos.
For his part, Trump will also have set of ambitions.
Trump administration may work for a 'new deal' with Iran.
The proposed new pact can easily replace the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action that Trump withdrew from in 2018.
Trump is a habitual credit seeker. Thus, he can claim he has negotiated a better deal: one with no time limit and a stronger monitoring structure.
Washington may also claim credit for an unprecedented trade agreement with the oil-rich Islamic Republic.
Another pointer related to Netanyahu is that Trump’s request for Israel’s president to issue a pre-emptive pardon for Netanyahu in a long-running corruption trial may gather force if the war plays out in a way that the US and Israel can claim as victory. Netanyahu may also emerge politically far stronger in the likely elections in October 2026.
Notably, After Khamenei was killed, Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, called his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, hoping to find support.
Lavrov only issued a strongly worded statement and sought peaceful solution based in international law. But Trump was not impressed.
** Additional info:
The Gulf countries had publicly warned against a strike, and Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates had told the US that they would not allow their airspace to be used for the attacks.
But the 'Washington Post' reported that Riyadh had been playing a double game: publicly opposing military action while Mohammed bin Salman called Trump several times in the last month supposedly to advocate for the strikes.
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