Rewriting the Rules of War: How Tehran Seized the Initiative from Washington
Mehdi Mohammadi
The developments on the battlefield over the past few nights, particularly the preemptive operation in Jordan, indicate that the regional conflict has entered an entirely new phase. Contrary to all enemy expectations, the Islamic Republic of Iran has become the rule-setter of this phase. What is unfolding is a shift in the platform of conflict and a rewriting of the rules of war based on lessons from the past, a precise understanding of the enemy's capabilities and intentions, and long-term strategic planning.
Striking the Joint Tel Aviv–Washington Strategy
Last night's operation in Jordan was a preemptive strike, based on highly accurate intelligence, targeting the infrastructure for the next planned U.S. operation. Washington and Tel Aviv, led by Netanyahu and Trump, were preparing an operation aimed at recovering from their strategic defeat. However, Iran detected the plan and neutralized it before it could be implemented.
The strategic message of this operation goes far beyond its tactical impact. Iran has adopted a doctrine of preemptive strikes and intends to neutralize the enemy's plans before they become operational. This means that Iran now holds the initiative in shaping the rules of the battlefield.
The operation took place on the very day the Israeli Prime Minister was at the White House, delivering what the author describes as a humiliating blow that will further deepen Trump's domestic political crisis. According to the author, Washington's admission the following morning that it had been "caught by surprise" and had "only a few minutes' notice" was a bitter acknowledgment by those who had claimed Iran's military had been destroyed.
Independent Multi-Front Warfare: The Coalition's New Nightmare
The expansion of operations across the resistance fronts has made the strategic equation far more complicated for the United States.
- Saudi Arabia is now facing multi-front operations originating from Iraq and Yemen.
- Attacks on the Abqaiq–Yanbu pipeline, the port of Yanbu, Aramco facilities in Jazan, and the blockade of the Bab al-Mandab Strait have intensified economic pressure on Riyadh.
A key point is the relative independence of these fronts. Even if the conflict between Iran and the United States ends in a ceasefire, the war involving Iraq and Yemen against Saudi Arabia, Iraq's confrontation with al-Julani, and Yemen's conflict with the UAE may continue. Iran has not yet entered into direct confrontation with Saudi Arabia, and its armed forces have explicitly stated that they are not targeting Saudi Arabia at this stage. According to the author, this represents a sophisticated geopolitical strategy that has caught the enemy off guard.
The Strait of Hormuz and the Energy Equation
Contrary to some speculation, the Strait of Hormuz is completely closed and no ships are passing through it. At the same time, Iran has maintained negotiations with Oman while managing the energy market. According to the author, the operation in Jordan, in addition to its military objectives, sent a shockwave through the energy market that largely offset the decline in oil prices seen the previous week.
The author argues that this demonstrates Iran's new style of warfare: more complex, more integrated, and more intelligent.
Principles of Iran's New Strategy
1. From Reaction to Preemptive Action
Iran no longer waits for the enemy to strike first. U.S. forces stationed anywhere in the region will, according to the author, become targets of surprise attacks before taking any action against Iran.
2. Exploiting the Enemy's Weaknesses
The depletion of interceptor missile stockpiles and shortages in U.S. strategic reserves have, in the author's view, created an opportunity for more precise and unexpected attacks.
3. Strategic Unity, Operational Independence
The resistance fronts operate in coordination while maintaining operational independence. The author argues that a new resistance axis is emerging, incorporating new actors. They fight together, but they may not all make peace together, as each front follows its own rules.
4. Defeating the Enemy as the Ultimate Objective
According to the author, Iran is not seeking an agreement but rather the military and economic defeat of its adversaries. Negotiation is portrayed as a political instrument that complements military action and is used to force the enemy into making meaningful concessions.
5. Closing the Technological Gap
The author contends that the assumption that only the United States and Israel possess preemptive strike capabilities has been shattered. New drones, precision-guided missiles, and advanced intelligence capabilities have enabled Iran to carry out highly accurate surprise attacks. The author also claims that since the latest round of hostilities began, nine U.S. military bases in the region have been rendered non-operational by Iran.
6. Expanding the Geographic Scope
Iran is no longer limiting its operations to neighboring territories. According to the author, the operational theater now extends to Jordan and beyond, with the ultimate objective of forcing all U.S. military forces out of West Asia.
Conclusion: The Birth of a New Style of Warfare
According to the author, what we are witnessing is the emergence of a new style of warfare—one that is bolder, more innovative, and built upon increasingly sophisticated operational planning under the direction of Iran's Supreme Commander.
Negotiation and the battlefield are no longer viewed as separate tracks. Instead, the combination of military pressure and negotiations conducted from a position of strength is presented as one of the Islamic Republic's greatest achievements. The author concludes that Iran is now setting the rules of engagement, leaving its adversaries to confront a far more complex strategic challenge than before.