Understanding U.S. Involvement in the Iran–Israel War: An Analysis through the Three Levels of Analysis in International Relations

The ongoing war between Iran and the alliance of United States – Isreal has been at the analytical center of discussions among individuals and scholars all over the world. The war has resulted in several displacements, mass casualties, and various destructions of lives, properties, and infrastructures. Many warships and military bases have been destroyed due to the large scale of the war. Several military officers and civilians have been injured and killed as a result of the launching of nuclear weapons across the Middle East and parts of the West. Iran was reported to have lost her Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei , in the ongoing war during the first wave of strikes. Israel’s military also stated that dozens of senior figures in the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Crops (IRGC) were killed. However, issues that occur among states in the international system are often driven by different factors and operants. This means that the escalation of the current conflict between these nuclear powers was not accidental but was triggered and fueled by several factors. Attempting to understand the factors that lead to issues and conflicts brings us to the levels of analysis, which are tools used by scholars of international relations to explain issues among states in the international system based on their views and perspectives. These levels help provide a comprehensive understanding of global affairs by examining factors at various scales, from individuals to the global system. Be that as it may, the three levels of analysis—individual, state, and global—have made the analytical approaches of scholars on international affairs more understandable in the contemporary world. In this regard, this insight will explain the rationale behind the full involvement and military support of the United States given to Israel against Iran. Using the levels of analysis as analytical tools, this insight will highlight and analyze the factors that encourage the United States to continue the war with Iran and provide full support to Israel in the hope of winning the war. Therefore, it must be understood that the United States does not make decisions without an interest or objective to achieve. Every action taken by the United States is part of a calculated policy. Starting with the individual level of analysis, this level focuses on how the characteristics, decisions, beliefs, and actions of key individuals can influence the behavior of a state. The background, personality, and experience of influential individuals such as leaders, diplomats, and political figures can shape the decision-making process and foreign policy of a state toward others in the international system. As a result, we could say that the involvement of the United States in the Iran–Israel war was partly influenced by the background, experience, and leadership style of U.S. President Donald Trump . Trump’s personal leadership style plays a key role. He is often described as a leader who favors bold and high-impact decisions, as well as military pressure, rather than long diplomatic processes. His attack on Iran was justified as a pre-emptive action aimed at neutralizing Iranian threats and weakening Iran’s military capacity. In addition, his personal beliefs regarding enemies and allies influenced U.S. foreign policy, particularly in forming strong military cooperation with Israel to remove what they perceived as threats from Iran’s military and nuclear capabilities. Furthermore, his communication style also played a significant role in shaping U.S. involvement in the war through strong messaging aimed at influencing perceptions. Statements such as predicting an Israeli victory or suggesting a collapse of Iranian leadership can be interpreted as forms of psychological warfare and perception management used by Trump to influence both the Iranian public and the international community. The state level of analysis, in this regard, focuses on the internal factors that shape the behavior of a state in the international system. Instead of concentrating on an individual leader, this level examines how a state’s domestic structures and national interests shape its actions. Thus, the decision and involvement of the United States in the Iran–Israel war can be explained by internal factors such as economic strength, political institutions, military capabilities, and social and cultural values. The United States possesses one of the most powerful military capabilities in the world. This includes advanced technology, global military bases, nuclear innovation, and strong naval forces. Because of this military strength, the United States often acts as a security guarantor for its allies. In the Iran–Israel conflict, U.S. military capacity enables it to support Israeli defense operations, deter Iranian attacks, and maintain regional military balance. American foreign policy is also influenced by social and cultural values, which encourage support for democratic allies and shared historical connections. The United States often portrays Israel as a democratic partner in the Middle East. These cultural and ideological ties influence public opinion and political discourse in the United States. As a result, American political structures frequently support policies that protect Israel against perceived threats from Iran, which contributes to U.S. involvement in the war. Furthermore, the United States has one of the largest economies in the world. This economic power significantly influences its foreign policy in the international system. Economic strength gives the United States the capacity to exercise global leadership and intervene in the affairs of other states. Through financial resources, economic sanctions, and international economic institutions, the U.S. can influence the behavior of other countries, as seen in cases such as Venezuela. Undoubtedly, the United States supported Israel in its attack partly to weaken Iran’s economic capacity and potentially gain greater influence over its crude oil resources. Finally, the global level of analysis takes a broader perspective by explaining the structure of the international system, which is considered anarchic in nature, meaning there is no central authority governing all states. In such a system, there is a distribution of power among states, and each country adopts different strategies—such as war, diplomacy, and alliances—to ensure its survival and influence. At the global level, major powers often attempt to maintain a balance of power so that no rival state becomes dominant. As a result, the United States supports Israel partly to counter the growing influence of Iran and its regional allies. If Iran becomes stronger militarily or politically, it could shift the regional balance of power, which could pose a significant threat to both the Middle East and Western interests. To sum up, the involvement of the United States in the ongoing war between Iran and Israel, through its full military support for Israel, was neither a mere coincidence nor an accidental decision. Rather, it was a deliberate and systematic action shaped by several major factors, which have been explained above using the three levels of analysis. Therefore, by examining the conflict through these analytical tools, we can gain a clearer and more comprehensive understanding of the goals and objectives the United States seeks to achieve in the war.

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