The United States and Israel’s military campaign against Iran is confronting a severe crisis of legitimacy as key Western allies publicly refuse to participate in Middle Eastern operations, according to geopolitical analysts. The strategic rift emerged when European powers including Spain, Germany, Portugal and the European Union collectively rejected Washington’s request for a joint military mission to reopen the Strait of Hormuz—a critical waterway Iran has closed to “enemies and those supporting their aggression.”
This unprecedented refusal creates both logistical challenges and diplomatic isolation for American operations. Arsenio Dominguez of the UN’s International Maritime Organization cautioned that even military escorts cannot guarantee safe passage through the volatile strait, which facilitates approximately 20% of global energy shipments.
Abdolreza Alami, director of the Asia West East Centre in Kuala Lumpur, noted that traditional allies now characterize the conflict as “a war of choice rather than collective defense.” This positioning has left Washington bearing sole responsibility for securing vital maritime routes while facing asymmetrical pressures without shared financial or military burden.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reinforced Tehran’s defensive stance in communications with French President Emmanuel Macron, asserting that “defending against invasion is a natural right” and demanding cessation of regional base usage against Iran. The president called for international condemnation of what he termed “Zionist-American invasion” while vowing Iran “will not surrender to bullies.”
Analysts suggest the Western consensus fracture provides Tehran strategic advantage, enabling framing of retaliatory actions as legitimate self-defense against unilateral aggression. Iran’s apparent objective extends beyond inflicting economic damage to persuading allies to pressure Washington toward de-escalation.
Meanwhile, regional violence escalated dramatically as Israel confirmed eliminating two senior Iranian security officials—Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani and Basij volunteer force commander Gholamreza Soleimani—in overnight strikes. If verified, Larijani’s assassination would represent the highest-profile target since Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s recent slaying.
Simultaneously, Baghdad’s fortified Green Zone endured attacks targeting the US embassy and diplomatic residences, while ceasefire negotiations between US representatives and Hamas in Cairo were overshadowed by regional hostilities. Hamas warned it may withdraw from Gaza ceasefire agreements if Israel maintains security restrictions imposed during the Iran conflict.