Power Play in the Middle East: Who is the Real Winner?
The Middle East is on fire again, and the world watches in disbelief. After Tehran admitted significant damage to its nuclear program, the question remains — who actually won this conflict? The administration of Donald Trump immediately declared victory, but a leaked Pentagon report casts doubt on this triumphant narrative. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegset accused the media of betrayal, claiming there is a campaign against Trump to downplay the effectiveness of the strikes.
The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed the damage is significant but dismissed Trump’s optimistic descriptions. Trump announced new talks with Iran but made it clear that nuclear weapons are non-negotiable for the U.S.
On the other hand, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Hamnei claims Iran did not suffer significant losses and even scored a victory over Israel, delivering a “heavy slap.” He warned that the Islamic Republic has access to key U.S. locations in the region and can act against them whenever it deems necessary.
Nikola Tucakov from the Institute of European Studies believes Iran has the least reason to be satisfied as the regime’s survival is the main victory for Iran. Israel and its allies, including the U.S., see the situation as a tactical win, having eliminated many leaders of Iran’s nuclear program and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
However, Tucakov warns that Israel’s demands on Hamas strip it of all possible cards, making any deal difficult. He believes the strategies might demoralize more than achieve desired results, and optimism about resolving the conflict is premature.
In short, the Middle East remains a power play arena with no clear winner, and conflicts continue while the world anxiously watches every new development.
If you think this is the end of the drama, think again — the Middle East is like a series with a million seasons, and every episode brings new twists. Who knows what the next episode holds? Share your thoughts, maybe together we’ll find out who the real winner of this power game is!
