**Israel’s Strike on Iran: A Weakening of Tehran and Moscow**
In a recent interview with PalitraNews, Valeri Chechelashvili, head of geopolitical research at the Center for Strategic Analysis, shared his insights on Israel’s strike on Iran. According to him, the escalation was caused by the United States losing hope of reaching a nuclear agreement with Iran.
“I don’t think there will be a serious escalation,” said Chechelashvili. “Iran will try to save face, and Israel will accept these rules of the game – this, of course, is a weakening of Iran, and consequently, a weakening of Russia.”
**Precise Strikes Cause Significant Damage**
Chechelashvili praised the Israeli operation for its precision, targeting not only individuals or nuclear facilities but also ballistic missile bases. He estimated that around 200-250 of Iran’s approximately 800 ballistic missiles were damaged in the strikes.
“It appears this operation was well-prepared,” he noted. “Iran suffered serious losses, and their military leadership was rendered dysfunctional.”
**Iran’s Isolation**
The analyst pointed out that Russia issued a toothless statement on the matter, while Turkish President Erdoğan condemned the Israeli action. However, Turkey’s relationship with Russia is strained, making it unlikely to be considered a true partner in this context.
“In reality, Turkey doesn’t have ideal relations with Russia and cannot be considered its true partner,” said Chechelashvili. “It seems Iran is completely isolated.”
**Ballistic Missiles: A Damp Squib?**
Chechelashvili noted that Iran might now use ballistic missiles as a response to the Israeli strike. However, he doubted their ability to inflict significant damage due to Israel’s advanced air defense systems.
“A ballistic missile can carry up to one ton of explosives,” he explained. “However, I doubt Iran will be able to inflict major damage. Even if one or two missiles make it through and hit Israeli territory, causing casualties, it would still be disproportionate compared to the potential harm Iran could have inflicted in the future by developing nuclear weapons.”
**Global Implications**
According to Chechelashvili, the strike on Iran marks a significant weakening of Tehran and its main supporter, Russia. He believes that this development increases the chances of Iran returning to the negotiation table with the United States.
“What changes globally? This is clearly a weakening of Iran, and consequently, a weakening of Russia,” he concluded.
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