Donald Trump suggests four-week operation in Iran as Gulf ignites
The Middle East descended into chaos as Iran retaliated against US and Israeli strikes by targeting neighbours with American bases. Here’s what the fight means for the region and the world
READING LEVEL: RED
Australians woke on Sunday morning to the news that the US and Israel had launched a joint attack on Iran. US President Donald Trump announced the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on social media soon after the first strikes, a claim later confirmed by Iranian state media.
President Trump has said there was a need to ensure America’s long-term security and has warned the American public to prepare for further casualties after three US troops were killed and five more seriously wounded in retaliatory strikes.
Senior officials from the Trump administration were due to make the case for the attack before the US Congress on Tuesday local time, the White House said.
So what is happening?
WHY DID THE US AND ISRAEL STRIKE IRAN?
The joint operation, named “Operation Epic Fury”, aims to destroy Iran’s military and dismantle its missile program. Mr Trump has also called for regime* change, after Iran failed to agree to a deal.
Mr Trump addressed the Iranian people directly, telling them that, “the hour of your freedom is at hand.”
“When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be, probably, your only chance for generations,” he said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said US and Israeli actions “will create the conditions for the brave Iranian people to take their destiny into their own hands.”
Iran also has the third largest oil reserves in the world, with more than 200 billion barrels underground, so its strategic and financial power cannot be overstated.
HOW LONG WILL THE CONFLICT LAST?
When asked by the Daily Mail about the expected length of the war, Mr Trump said: “It’s always been a four-week process. We figured it will be four weeks or so,”
Mr Trump told CNBC that, “We’re doing our job not just for us but for the world. And everything is ahead of schedule”.
“Things are evolving in a very positive way right now, a very positive way,” he said.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE IRANIAN REGIME?
The son of Iran’s former Shah, Reza Pahlavi, a trained fighter pilot who has been in exile* in the United States for 40 years, has attempted to position himself to return to take over Iran.
“Every attempt by the regime’s remnants to determine Khamenei’s successor* has already failed,” he wrote on social media on Sunday. “Whoever is appointed … will have neither legitimacy nor survival.”
However, Al Jazeera reported on Monday that a three-member transitional council to handle the state duties has been announced. The Qatari outlet said that Ayatollah Alireza Arafi was appointed on Sunday to the temporary council, as were President Masoud Pezeshkian and Supreme Court Chief Justice Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei.
WHAT IS THE REACTION AMONG IRANIANS?
There were muted celebrations on the streets of Iran as news spread of Mr Khamenei’s death but multiple news agencies reported tens of thousands of Iranians gathered in the capital Tehran to protest his killing.
For critics of the regime and it’s long history of state-sponsored terrorism in the Middle East and elsewhere, these US and Israeli strikes on Iran have opened up the best chance of Persian freedom since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Australian Iranian Community Alliance vice president Suren Edgar told NewsWire Mr Khemenei’s death would bring “a sense of relief” to millions.
“The confirmed death of Ali Khamenei marks the end of an era defined by repression*, executions, censorship, and systemic violence against the Iranian people,” Mr Edgar said.
The nation’s 90 million people have endured decades of constant surveillance, a notoriously corrupt government and restrictive rules for women and girls.
A man in Iran’s northern city of Karaj said that Iranians were joyful and optimistic of regime change.
“The truth is people were counting down to the strikes, continually asking when will they hit, when will they hit?” the man told the Wall Street Journal.
“Everyone is joyful, it is one of the best days of probably 95 per cent of Iranians’ lives.”
However, the call was interrupted by gunfire, the outlet said.
WHO COULD SUCCEED KHAMENEI?
Regime change remains far from assured because Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or secret police, was expected to fight to maintain control.
The fight for control of Iran’s colossal oil wealth, and power, would be intense, diplomatic sources have said.
The IRGC has deep control of Iran’s economy and have become money laundering experts to beat US sanctions. US intelligence agency the CIA has warned that a new hardliner* could be appointed after the death of Mr Khamenei.
Intelligence reports from the weeks leading up to strikes warned that there would be “substantial obstacles” to “genuine regime change”, the Wall Street Journal reported.
HOW HAS IRAN RETALIATED?
Iran responded to the attack by launching missiles at Israel and four Gulf Arab countries which host US military bases: Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE. Dubai Airport and Kuwait International Airport were both hit by Iranian air strikes and multiple airports including tourism gateway Abu Dhabi have been evacuated and closed. Global air traffic was sent into chaos and thousands of Australian travellers remain stranded due to cancelled and delayed flights. An estimated 115,000 Australians are currently in the Middle East.
HOW HAS AUSTRALIA RESPONDED?
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australia stood with the “brave people of Iran in their struggle against oppression*”.
“For decades, the Iranian regime has been a destabilising force, through its ballistic* missile and nuclear programs, support for armed proxies*, and brutal acts of violence and intimidation,” he wrote on X.
“Iran directed at least two attacks on Australian soil in 2024. These appalling acts targeting Australia’s Jewish community were intended to create fear, divide our society and challenge our sovereignty*.
“In response, Australia took the unprecedented steps of expelling Iran’s Ambassador, suspending operations at our embassy in Tehran, and listing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a state sponsor of terrorism.”
WHERE TO GET HELP
Australians needing government assistance are urged to register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), which has activated its 24/7 Crisis Centre to provide consular support to those in the region.
DFAT has also opened a crisis portal to support Australians in Israel and Iran.
Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Lebanon, Palestine, Qatar, Syria, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen have all been listed on Smartraveller’s “do not travel” list.
Australians were also urged to reconsider travel to Jordan, Oman and Saudi Arabia.
– with AFP
POLL
GLOSSARY
- regime: the ruling government, often used to refer to authoritarian rule
- exile: state of being sent or going to live in another country or place, often for political reasons or security, or as punishment
- successor: someone or something that comes after another person or thing
- repression: the use of force or violence to control a group of people
- oppression: when people are governed in an unfair and cruel way and stopped from having opportunities and freedom
- ballistic: relates to projectiles flying through space, like bullets and rockets fired from weapons
- proxies: authority given to a person or organisation to act for someone else or another organisation
- sovereignty: the power of a country to control its own government
EXTRA READING
Shaky ceasefire between Israel, Iran
Trump declares end of Gaza War
‘Peace in our time’ blast from past
QUICK QUIZ
- Which two countries launched the attack on Iran?
- What is the name of their joint military operation?
- Who was the Iranian Supreme Leader killed in the initial attack?
- Which neighbouring countries has Iran targeted in its retaliation so far and what do they have in common?
- DFAT has advised Australians to avoid travel to which countries?
LISTEN TO THIS STORY
CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. War vs. peace
Is there a possibility of bringing peace to the Middle East region during this time of extreme conflict?
Work with a partner to design a poster or peace card detailing ways or reasons as to why an end to this conflict is imperative for the civilian people in these areas.
Think of solutions such as peace talks, humanitarian aid, United Nations involvement etc.
Show your card to other groups and see what ideas you came up with that were similar or different.
Time: allow 20 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Humanities, Personal and Social, Critical and Creative Thinking
2. Extension
Why have these nations chosen military action above anything else at this point in the long-running conflict?
Do you think Trump’s four week guideline is likely or unachievable? Explain your answer.
Time: allow 10 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Humanities, Personal and Social, Critical and Creative Thinking
VCOP ACTIVITY
To sum it up
After reading the article, use your comprehension skills to summarise in a maximum of three sentences what the article is about.
Think about:
What is the main topic or idea?
What is an important or interesting fact?
Who was involved (people or places)?
Use your VCOP skills to re-read your summary to make sure it is clear, specific and well punctuated.