Feb. 28 was the day when the U.S officially sent its first strikes on Iran, ending in the surprising death of Iranian Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Movements of the military entered within distance to operate in Iran, following a few unsuccessful attempts at developing a nuclear negotiation treaty between the U.S. and Iran.
What is America doing in Iran and what are the consequences?
President Trump, after negotiations with Iran failed, initiated an offensive attack against Iran by sending missile strikes to facilities alleged to have been developing ballistic missiles.
Notably, President Trump does not have the capability to authorize acts of war without Congress approval. However, a loophole found to supersede that lack of authority is the War Powers Resolution of 1973, with an explicit article of the act giving President Trump the power to notify Congress 48 hours ahead of time before using military force for the purpose of when the U.S. is under threat of an attack or has been attacked.
A result of the U.S. strike on Iran has led to multiple civilian casualties, with one strike being confirmed to have hit an elementary school leading to the fatality of many school children and teachers alike. However, President Trump has gone on and claimed that many other nations hold the capability to use the same weaponry that was seen, whilst also saying that shifting responsibility of the explosion.
There has also been a huge decrease in the amount of oil coming from the Middle East as the Strait of Hormuz, which is the largest place of oil transit responsible for 60 oil ships a day, has been suffering from resulting in worldwide shortage in oil.
Why is America in Iran?
President Trump and his administration gave multiple reasons for the attack: Iran’s alleged development of ballistic missiles which could be a threat to the U.S., for example, while also claiming that they would like to implement a regime change within Iran.
However, critics claim that Trump’s motivations might go deeper, and that Trump is interested in the oil within the region since Iran’s oil industry is notoriously well developed; given his most recent operations in Venezuela in January, he recently introduced his motives were to build up the Venezuelan oil industry which has one of the largest known oil reserves ever recorded.
Who will it affect?
In the United States, gas prices have already been observed to been increasing notable amount, with the national average increasing by a whole $0.30 cents in just a week since the first strikes on Iran, which is a whole 10% increase than what it was before. The cost of transportation and power may rise around the world overall due to many modes of transport and electricity are fueled by the oil that comes from Iran.
Additionally, there have been increasing concerns from students with family abroad, just like with the turmoil happening in Mexico since the death of notorious gang leader, Nemesio Cervantes. Iran and other nations within the middle east region have been facing the consequences of the whiplash, with protests against the war from both the U.S. and middle east regions due to the rise of civilian casualties happening due to the deliberate strikes, many students are fearing for their families who happen to be in the middle east regions.
