Dr. Glen Duerr, professor of international studies at Cedarville University, provided insight into the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran and the potential involvement of the United States.
On June 13, Israel initiated “Operation Rising Lion,” launching surprise air strikes targeting Iran’s nuclear program. Reports have estimated that at least 224 Iranians and 24 Israelis have been killed since the strikes began.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Wednesday (June 19) that President Donald Trump will make a decision in the next two weeks as to whether the U.S. will become directly involved in the conflict.
“I have a message directly from the president, and I quote: ‘Based on the fact that there’s a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks,’” Leavitt said.
Duerr spoke with ChurchLeaders and explained the recent history that led up to Israel’s attack:
Iran’s nuclear program has developed significantly. And unlike other countries—like Iraq or Syria, where Israel bombed their programs in 1981 and 2007 respectively, and effectively ended them—Iran has over 130 nuclear sites, and they have continued to threaten Israel. Now, there’s significant geographic space between the two of them. To get from Israel to Iran is a distance. And so for Israel, it’s more out there. They don’t want Iran to develop the nuclear weapon. But after Oct. 7, 2023, with a very brutal attack from an Iran-backed and sponsored Hamas, it changed. And especially when Iran directly attacked Israel with drones in April of 2024 and then drones and ballistic missiles in October of 2024, it changed the calculation. And for Prime Minister Netanyahu, he really wants to maintain the sovereignty of the people of Israel. Oct. 7 took him by surprise, and he has always kind of held his political position by keeping Israel safe. And that is something that didn’t happen [on] Oct. 7. So I think he’s really trying to get out in front of this, and we’ve seen Israel, with Operation Rising Lion, directly attack some of those 130 nuclear sites. Iran has fired back; the United States has provided support. President Trump has really warned residents of Tehran to get out because Israel’s going after it. And I think what Israel’s really trying to do—it’s very precise. It’s gone after scientists in the nuclear program. It’s gone after nuclear sites. But it’s also ratcheting it up to go after news outlets. The Islamic Republic of Iran broadcasting, for example, was hit in Tehran. And they have for decades spouted very vehement and vitriolic anti-Israel and anti-American sentiment. And so that’s where we find ourselves, because for Israel, they’re just fed up. They want change here, and they do not want the nuclear program.
Duerr said that he doesn’t imagine that “any form of ground war” will take place due to Iran being such a large country with “two massive mountain ranges.” He explained that “it’s like Afghanistan and Iraq together. And so that would be virtually impossible for anyone to do something, outside of the largest players. So I don’t anticipate a ground war, but I do anticipate an ongoing aerial conflict.”
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The U.S. has “tried to negotiate with Iran to end its nuclear program but also to allow it nuclear energy,” but Duerr said that negotiations “failed over the course of last two months, and I think that’s what triggered ultimately Israel’s actions.”
“There are very real concerns” that the U.S. could get directly involved, Duerr said. “President Trump has pledged a lot to get out of Middle Eastern wars, and I think he’s really tried to do that, but reality is always stickier.”
Duerr explained that the U.S. has provided Israel with a lot of defensive support. In fact, just last October, the U.S. aided Israel in shooting down drones, projectiles, and ballistic missiles Iran was using to attack Israel.
