Iran Versus US–Israel Conflict in 2026 Tests Credibility of Global Peace Narrative
Military strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran in Ramadhan 2026 have triggered escalating tensions in the Middle East. These attacks are viewed not merely as limited military operations, but rather as part of a larger struggle over regional stability and the credibility of the global peace narrative that Washington has been promoting.
Ahmad Khoirul Umam, PhD, Director of Paramadina Graduate School of Diplomacy (PGSD) and Associate Professor of Political Science and International Relations at Paramadina University, contends that this conflict represents a serious test of the United States’ commitment to maintaining a law-based international order.
“The Israeli and American strikes against Iran during Ramadhan raise fundamental questions about Washington’s commitment to delivering global peace,” Umam stated in a written statement.
Escalation Chronology
The escalation began when Israel launched aerial strikes, claiming to target Iranian military facilities and strategic infrastructure, citing the need to prevent Tehran from strengthening its military capacity. Shortly thereafter, the United States declared full support for this action and conducted limited military operations, citing protection of regional security interests and its allies in the Gulf.
This occurred merely two months after Washington engaged in military operations in Latin America, which drew criticism from several developing nations for what was seen as a unilateral approach to sovereign states.
From an international relations theory perspective, Umam characterises this approach as reflecting a pattern of coercive diplomacy. “When military force becomes the primary instrument of geopolitics, the norms of multilateralism and international law are reduced to mere symbolic decoration,” he stated.
He argues that the attacks on Iran sharpen the contradiction between rhetoric on stability and military practice on the ground, simultaneously testing the credibility of the global peace narrative that has been constructed through various international forums.