For over four decades, Iran invested heavily in building regional power and influence, which includes its decimated nuclear programme, Yet, much of that effort was taken out in just 12 days.
Long before this collapse, Iranian proxies were systematically dismantled across key strongholds, decimated in Syria and Lebanon where Hezbollah once held sway, neutralized in Gaza during Hamas’ clash with the IDF, and left largely irrelevant in Yemen, where the Houthis remain constrained by distance and limited technological capacity.
Now, a pressing question emerges, will Iran attempt to revive its nuclear program, or will it pivot toward economic development like Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Brunei? For years, the Iranian regime has prioritised ideological power over national progress, entrenching itself in Islamic fundamentalism rather than economic growth.
Rebuilding a nuclear program under constant surveillance by regional rivals who view a nuclear-armed Iran as an existential threat raises serious concerns. In the end, the world must grapple with this dilemma. Will Iran continue chasing power at the expense of prosperity, or finally choose the path of development and stability?Follow Kluemedia for me insights