Iran’s June 23, 2025 strike on a U.S. base in the Gulf immediately brought to mind the retaliation for Qassem Soleimani’s assassination; a move that reshuffled the strategic balance.

While the U.S. had planned to move into a second phase of the mission, targeting top Houthi commanders, that goal was hindered by the group's ability to neutralize Washington’s most advanced surveillance asset: the MQ-9 Reaper drone.

Iran's military presence in Yemen is increasingly under pressure as the United States ramps up its threats against the Tehran-backed Houthi group, which has relied on Iranian support—both military and logistical, including advisors—over the past decade.

Since launching Operation Deterrence of Aggression until Assad's ousting on December 8, no Iranian military figures were notably active in Syria; instead, Iran’s diplomatic arm, led by FM Abbas Araghchi, took center stage.

Donald Trump’s return to the White House brings significant expectations for his approach to Iran, a nation he targeted with intense sanctions during his first term (2017–2021) under the banner of “maximum pressure.”