Demonstrators hold pictures of Iran's new Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei as they gather for a rally at Enghelab Square in central Tehran on March 9, 2026. [AFP]
The 12-day war in 2025 that pitted Iran against Israel and the United States (US) seems to have been a dress rehearsal for the current war. The 12 days tested Iran’s defences and possibly led Israel and the US to identify Iran’s weakness and strength.