Our newspaper published a story yesterday titled: “US Urges Hezbollah and Iran to Make ‘Painful Decisions.’” This title captures the reality that Iran, Hezbollah, and Hamas are facing difficult choices right now.
The time for painful decisions is not driven by Washington's wishes but by changing realities on the ground. Iran now faces confrontation directly, rather than through its proxies. Washington acts as a messenger until a new president is in place, after which conditions are expected to worsen.
This shift is due to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu disrupting the balance of power in Gaza and Lebanon, allowing Israel’s powerful military to operate without significant Iranian interference.
Iran is now experiencing a “painful patience” rather than a strategic one.
Hezbollah has captured the situation well. Yesterday, its media relations official, Mohammed Afif, said: “There are no negotiations under fire; what cannot be achieved by force cannot be obtained through politics.”
This accurately reflects Israel’s current approach.
Afif's comments are less about wisdom and more about defending Iran, which is now reluctant to confront Israel. He claimed that Hezbollah takes “full, complete, and exclusive responsibility” for targeting Netanyahu’s home.
This reinforces Iranian claims distancing themselves from the drone attack, implying that if Israel wants to retaliate, it should focus on Lebanon, not Iran. This suggests confusion and a sense of defeat.
We are indeed in a time of painful decisions, and the future appears even more challenging, especially after the killing of senior Hamas leader Yehya Sinwar in Gaza and the recent targeting of Hezbollah leaders.
Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran want to turn back the clock to Oct. 6, 2023, which is impossible. Neither the US nor France, nor Iranian diplomatic efforts can make this happen.
For over four decades, the region has been stagnating, with each unresolved crisis complicating matters further. All parties, including Israel after the Oct. 7 attack, are paying a heavy price.
It's crucial to understand each party's objectives. Iran seeks expansion and influence and is nearing the point of paying the price. Meanwhile, Arab nations want to resolve a crisis that has become almost trivialized, but most Arab solutions are poorly timed.
For Israel, especially under Netanyahu, the focus is not on a two-state solution but on weakening its enemies. Israel aims to cut Iranian influence and is close to drawing Washington into direct conflict with Tehran.
Everyone, including Iran, recognizes that we are facing a dangerous shift.
Yet some Lebanese politicians still believe there is room for “smoothing over differences,” which is a disastrous mistake.
Tehran, its proxies, and Israel will not hesitate to escalate the situation in their fight for survival, prioritizing their interests over Gaza or Lebanon.
This is the harsh reality, requiring painful decisions, whether made willingly or in response to changing circumstances.
