Israel’s strikes reveal Iran’s vulnerabilities, mirroring Russia’s exposure of its weaknesses through its reinvasion of Ukraine.
Israel’s attacks on Iran have exposed significant vulnerabilities in the Islamic Republic’s intelligence agencies and broader military apparatus.
Interestingly, Russia revealed strikingly similar weaknesses when it reinvaded Ukraine.
One nation’s vulnerabilities were exposed by being attacked, while the other’s were revealed through its attack on another country. Both nations, often described as autocratic, are led by long-entrenched leaders.
Israel *INSIDE* of Iran
Israel’s Mossad has demonstrated remarkable prowess in conducting covert operations deep within Iran, relying on a sophisticated network of agents and informants cultivated over decades. By exploiting the Iranian regime’s unpopularity and systemic inefficiencies, Mossad has successfully recruited local operatives who provide critical intelligence and logistical support.
Operations such as “Rising Lion” highlight the agency’s meticulous planning, which includes pre-positioning assets like drones and weapons, establishing covert drone bases, and using deceptive tactics to evade Iran’s security apparatus. These efforts have enabled Israel to maintain a strategic edge in its intelligence-gathering efforts.
Mossad’s operations have targeted key Iranian vulnerabilities, including air defense systems, which have been neutralized from within to facilitate potential Israeli airstrikes. The agency has also been linked to high-profile assassinations of Iranian military commanders and nuclear scientists, showcasing its ability to infiltrate sensitive areas.
A standout operation involved Mossad agents infiltrating a secret warehouse in Tehran to steal a vast archive of documents detailing Iran’s nuclear weapons program, underscoring the agency’s capacity to execute daring and precise missions inside one of the world’s most fortified nations.
What does Ayatollah Ali Khamenei do now?
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s strategy of building an Axis of Resistance has collapsed. Hamas lies in ruins. Hezbollah remains crippled since the pager attack. Assad has fled Syria. The Houthis, geographically distant, lost their strategic edge when they could no longer safely threaten the Red Sea.
On October 26, 2024, Israel destroyed Iran’s S-300 air defenses, and Israel destroyed any replacements when Operation “Rising Lion” began.
Khamenei’s response to Israel’s “Rising Lion” appeared feeble, prompting a stern warning from Israel: cease or Tehran will “burn.”
Israel decisively eliminated key Iranian military figures, including Major General Mohammad Bagheri, chief of staff of Iran’s armed forces; Major General Hossein Salami, commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard; Major General Gholam Ali Rashid; and Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh. Other senior military leaders and Iran’s top nuclear scientists were also killed.
Khamenei must realize that Israel could have targeted him as well. With his security apparatus crumbling, should he negotiate with President Trump before it’s too late?
Conclusion
Between the attacks of October 26, 2024, and June 13, 2025, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei must be wondering how Israel manages to pull it off.
Israel is doing the heavy lifting, yet it still lacks the capability to destroy Iran’s nuclear sites, which are buried deep within mountains or far underground.
Will President Trump continue to give Iran multiple chances before the U.S. deploys MOABs on Iran’s fortified nuclear facilities? Does he have the resolve to take such a decisive action?
Putin appears content to bide his time with Trump, and Khamenei may adopt a similar strategy.
Does Trump want to be remembered as the president who allowed Iran to acquire a nuclear bomb?