Part 5/14:
The culmination of the latest conflict was shaped by a strategic mix of hard military deterrence and diplomatic pressure from the United States. The Trump administration notably utilized this combination to broker a ceasefire that both sides accepted, signaling a move toward de-escalation. Steven Yates from the Heritage Foundation highlighted that the US’s decisive stance and credible threats effectively prevented further Iranian retaliation, thus allowing Israel to conduct its surgical strikes with reduced fear of wide-scale escalation.