Can the Islamic Republic of Iran survive the waves of devastating attacks being launched around the clock by the Israelis and Americans? Nobody knows.
Unlike Saddam Hussein’s Iraq or Moammar Gadhafi’s Libya, Iran has a long record of success. On Oct. 6, 2023, it appeared to be achieving its long-term goal of a durable hegemony in the Middle East. Its proxies and allies dominated Iraq. Bashar al-Assad seemed firmly in power in Syria. Hezbollah held Lebanon’s destiny in its hands. The Houthis had enough firepower to choke off navigation through the Red Sea, depriving Egypt of badly needed Suez Canal revenue and imposing costs on shipping and trade.