The confrontation between Israel and Iran, driven by deep‑seated ideological hostility and mutual fears over nuclear ambitions, has escalated from shadowy proxy skirmishes to open conflict, exposing the inadequacy of diplomacy and sanctions to contain it. Iran’s secret enrichment programs and reliance on surrogate forces, paired with Israel’s willingness to strike independently under its Begin Doctrine ethos, have locked both sides in an unending cycle that defies resolution through conventional means. In the aftermath of Operation Rising Lion and Operation Midnight Hammer, each government must confront the heavy toll—both human and material—of outright warfare. Ahead lies a precarious stretch in which the specter of renewed violence persists, making it imperative to forge a lasting security framework that tackles nuclear proliferation, proxy aggression, and the underlying political grievances fueling this protracted standoff.