The geopolitical landscape of the Middle East is currently undergoing a seismic shift that threatens the very foundations of Western dominance. During a recent high-level panel discussion hosted by Zeteo in New York City, experts explored how the United States has become fundamentally tethered to a cycle of perpetual conflict.
Host Mehdi Hasan opened the forum by emphasizing the critical need for authentic expert voices to navigate the escalating tensions across the region. He was joined by Noura Erakat, a renowned human rights attorney, and Narges Bajoghli, a prominent Iranian-American scholar and filmmaker.
The Illusion of Sovereignty and Fragile Ceasefires
A primary focus of the discussion centered on the historical and current state of national independence within the Middle East. Noura Erakat pointed out that the strategic expansion of Israel has historically come at the cost of its neighbors’ security.
She argued that countries like Lebanon and territories like Palestine are systematically denied the fundamental right to actual sovereignty. This lack of agency prevents these populations from exercising legitimate self-defense against external aggression.
The panelists noted that ceasefires in the region are often treated as temporary pauses rather than paths to peace. Narges Bajoghli suggested that these diplomatic measures frequently serve the interests of larger powers rather than protecting the vulnerable.
The Systematic Failure of International Law
The conversation shifted toward the efficacy of global institutions in the face of modern warfare. Erakat delivered a scathing critique of the United Nations, describing the body as increasingly useless in enforcing international legal standards.
She highlighted recent US and Israeli military strikes as evidence of a breakdown in global accountability. There is a noticeable lack of international condemnation for what she termed unprovoked aggression against sovereign entities.
According to Erakat, the traditional international legal framework is being replaced by a selective “rules-based order.” This transition, she argues, is designed to favor Western hegemony while ignoring the rights of those outside the inner circle of power.
The Middle East as a Global Workshop of War
One of the most provocative points raised by Bajoghli involved the technological utilization of the region. She explained that since the 1979 Iranian Revolution, the Middle East has functioned as a testing ground for advanced warfare.
Various states and private contractors use these conflicts to perfect surveillance technologies and experimental combat methods. Once these systems are refined in active conflict zones, they are frequently exported to other parts of the world.
This cycle has created a foreign policy establishment in Washington that Bajoghli describes as “addicted” to forever wars. The perpetual nature of these engagements provides a constant stream of data and revenue for the military-industrial complex.
Iran’s Decades-Long Strategy of Asymmetric Warfare
The panel delved into the specific military posture of Iran and its long-term objectives. Bajoghli noted that Tehran has been preparing for a direct confrontation with the US and Israel since the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s.
Recognizing that it cannot compete in a conventional arms race, Iran has focused on asymmetric warfare. This strategy involves building a vast network of regional alliances and refining guerrilla-style military tactics.
These preparations are designed to allow Iran to withstand prolonged military engagements that would bankrupt or exhaust more traditional powers. The goal is to create a defensive depth that makes any direct invasion of the Iranian mainland too costly to attempt.
A Strategic Defeat Larger Than the Vietnam War?
Mehdi Hasan questioned whether the current trajectory of US policy could lead to a historic failure. Bajoghli suggested that the United States might be facing a strategic defeat significantly larger than the Vietnam War.
Unlike the conflict in Southeast Asia, the current crisis in the Middle East directly threatens the structural foundations of the US empire. The panelists pointed to the potential collapse of the petrodollar system as a major risk factor.
Furthermore, Iran‘s strategic leverage over the Strait of Hormuz poses a direct challenge to maritime dominance. Control over these global trade routes is essential for maintaining the traditional Western economic order.
Propaganda and the Division of the Iranian Diaspora
The experts also explored the social and psychological dimensions of these geopolitical conflicts. Bajoghli addressed the deep divisions currently visible within the Iranian diaspora across Europe and North America.
She attributed much of this internal friction to decades of well-funded Western-backed propaganda operations. These psychological campaigns are designed to fracture communities and manufacture consent for foreign intervention.
Ultimately, these operations and the resulting sanctions primarily harm civil society within Iran. By creating internal divisions, foreign powers can more easily justify aggressive policies that might otherwise face public opposition.
The Final Collapse of the Post-WWII Order
The panelists agreed that the international order established following World War II has effectively reached its end. While the replacement for this system remains uncertain, the collapse of old norms is becoming increasingly visible to the global public.
The destruction in Gaza has served as a catalyst for this realization, allowing people to see “behind the curtain” of imperial power. Independent media platforms have played a crucial role in bypassing traditional narrative control.
Bajoghli highlighted how the crisis has shattered trust in legacy media outlets. Younger generations are increasingly turning to alternative sources of information, stripping the US and its allies of their ability to manage public perception.
A Call to Action Against Systematic Helplessness
In his concluding remarks, Mehdi Hasan urged his audience to reject the feeling of helplessness often promoted by modern political systems. He noted that making a population feel powerless is a common tactic used by fascist and authoritarian regimes.
He encouraged individuals to recognize their own power and privilege within their local communities. By disrupting the status quo in workplaces and social circles, citizens can challenge the broader structures of the “forever war” machine.
The discussion ended with a call for a fundamental reassessment of how global citizens engage with international politics. The experts argued that only through a collective rejection of imperial narratives can a new, more just international order emerge.