Federico Reyes Heroles
Vulnerable: capable of being hurt or suffering physical or moral injury.
Real Academia Española
Midnight Hammer hits us at around five in the afternoon. Seven B-2s, the feared aerial bats of the US, escorted by another 120 aircraft, drop 16 bombs weighing 1,300 kg. They are targeting the illicit enrichment of uranium for military purposes. That night, Trump declares that the operation has been a success due to the “total and complete” destruction of the Iranian facilities. Netanyahu applauds wildly: “No other country on earth has done what the US has done.” Iranian authorities warn that the reaction will be proportional to the attack. The nuclear material has not been found. The world is on edge. Russia and China condemn the attack. So does UN Secretary-General Guterres. Diplomacy is dead. Iran responds with a cosmetic attack on the US military base in Qatar. Qatar was warned, as was the air base.
Monday, 4 p.m. “Congratulations, everyone!” Trump congratulates the world as a ceasefire between Israel and Iran is about to take effect. In 72 hours? Something doesn’t add up.
What was the real purpose? To prevent nuclear armament? To support the fragile Netanyahu and boost Trump’s popularity? To return Iran to its “greatness” — that of Persia, as Trump has said? To overthrow the Islamic Republic and bring about regime change? The contradictions within Trump’s own team are overwhelming. However, “regime change” through interference has proven unsuccessful.
I suspect that Trump is unaware of what lies behind Iran, behind the Persian world. It was a powerful empire that lasted around 800 years. It was Cyrus II who achieved the fusion of various ethnic groups. It is on every screen. That empire was an example of good administration, built communication routes to facilitate trade, conquered Babylon, and expanded into territories in Western Asia, Egypt, and part of Europe. With a predominant religion—Zoroastrianism, derived from Zoroaster—the empire nevertheless maintained religious tolerance and local customs. There was a certain pluralism. Many museums in Europe cannot be explained without the presence of Persian culture. That great empire—due to internal divisions—fell to Alexander the Great.
Different empires arrived, including the Mongols, as well as dynasties that altered the Persian mold. These dynasties—the Qajar and Pahlavi—ruled well into the 20th century. They attempted to introduce certain Western values. In 1979, following the Islamic Revolution and the ascension of Ruhollah Khomeini as leader, the monarchy fell, and the Islamic Republic, a theocratic regime, was established. Being Iranian is linked to nationality. Today, Persians are an ethnic group with Indo-European roots. Iran is multi-ethnic and home to minority religions, including Sunnis, Christians (mainly Armenians and Assyrians), Jews, and Zoroastrians. However, Islam—particularly Shi’ism, which accounts for 95% of the population—is overwhelmingly dominant.
Population: over 90 million; territory: slightly smaller than Mexico; life expectancy: around 75 years, the same as Mexico; resources: second largest natural gas reserve and third largest proven oil reserve; military power: ranked 16th (Global Fire Power), with Israel in 15th place and Spain in 17th. Waging war with a theocracy is something different.
Revenge will be “eternal,” Iran’s leaders have said. Roman emperors prepared thoroughly for office. So do some contemporary monarchies. Mitterrand, after the collapse of the USSR, asked for an old Mappa Mundi (world map) to understand the future of Europe. Leo XIV read it clearly on Sunday. Wars leave behind a legacy of hatred that lasts for generations.
The United States is more powerful. But which country—the US, Israel, or Iran—is more vulnerable? What about the Twin Towers? Is theocracy really over? The threat is against the West. Thank you, Mr. President. 7 p.m.: Iran denies ceasefire.
Trump is not Hadrian, nor did he ask for a map of the world.
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