Israel’s Attack on Iran Is Reviving Regime Change Mania
Israel can inflict massive damage on targets in Iran thanks to its US-supplied technological advantages. But the old neocon fantasy of building a new Middle East through endless war is still as delusional as it is destructive of human life.
Extensive damage from Israeli air stricks in Tehran, Iran, on June 13, 2025. (Saba / Middle East Images via AFP)
Andreas Krieg is an associate professor at the Defence Studies Department of King’s College London and the author of Socio-Political Order and Security in the Arab World. He spoke to Jacobin about the Israeli attack on Iran, how it fits into Donald Trump’s foreign policy schemes, and the persistent neocon fantasy that you can impose friendly regimes throughout the Middle East through aggressive war — a fantasy that Trump himself once derided.
Daniel Finn
There was quite a bit of speculation in advance of this attack that Israel might be about to start bombing Iran. But when it did happen, it appears to have come as a surprise to the Iranian leadership, as indicated by the fact that several senior figures were successfully targeted in their own homes. Would you say that they should have been better prepared for the timing and the nature of the attack than they actually were?
Andreas Krieg
Yes, I think they’ve been quite naive all along, not just in the last few days. I think the Iranians have been quite reckless in the way they have prioritized the security of their own senior personnel. They should have expected something to happen. I’m especially surprised that they had individuals sleeping in their own beds at a time of heightened tensions.
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