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Decoding the Iran-Israel Conflict: A Lexicon of War and Geopolitical Narratives

The Iran-Israel conflict decoded through its language: threats, propaganda, and geopolitical visions. A revealing lexicon of each side's strategies and perceptions.

Decoding the Iran-Israel Conflict: A Lexicon of War and Geopolitical Narratives
Africa & World

The confrontation between Iran and the American-Israeli coalition is also expressed through a structured political language, carrying threats, exaggerations, and symbolic manipulations. This lexicon, analyzed here, reveals the worldviews and strategies of each actor.

Demonizing the enemy is a constant. The United States labels the Iranian regime as terrorist, while Tehran denounces America as the "Great Satan". This rhetoric aims both to reassure its own side and to destabilize the adversary.

Legitimizing the war relies on the nuclear threat and the promotion of democracy. The vocabulary used is not just propaganda; it encodes a geopolitical vision where imperialism and resistance, democracy and theocracy, clash.

The use of the term "threat" is central. Israel presents the Iranian nuclear program as an "existential threat," justifying a possible preemptive strike. The "threat" becomes a narrative tool to mobilize opinion and create deterrence.

The expression "unprecedented" is overused. Each attack is described as such, signaling an escalation and seeking to impress the public. This formula, by being repeated so often, loses its credibility and reveals a desire to control the narrative.

Beyond the similarities, each actor has its own rhetorical peculiarities. Donald Trump frequently used superlatives and hyperbole to construct a narrative of permanent victory. Iranian officials, for their part, emphasize the dichotomy of oppressed/oppressors and present resistance as a historical axis. The Shoah is a constant reference in Israeli discourse, serving to justify preemptive strikes in the name of "never again".

This conflict, beyond the military clashes, is a battle of narratives where every word and every expression is weighed to influence perceptions and justify actions. The war between Israel and Iran escalated in June 2025, with direct strikes and responses involving the United States. As of March 2026, tensions remain high, with ongoing strikes and persistent threats in the region.

Source : www.camer.be