Iranian-American War (American Technocracy)

The Iranian-American War, otherwise known as The Great War of the Middle East, The Fourth Gulf War, and in Iran as The Great Patriotic War, was a global conflict waged between November 26, 2020 to August 18th, 2024. During the conflict, some nine-hundred and fifty thousand people were killed -- most of them civilians. The war began when the Iranians launched a joint air and naval attack on the United States Fifth Fleet in the Persian Gulf, decimating it. Iran proceeded to invade and overthrow the Bahraini government, before proceeding to invade the UAE, defeating coalition forces at Dubai and forcing them to retreat. Iran proceeded to invade Saudi Arabia and occupy the Eastern Province, defeating the coalition again at Qatif. After this, the war dragged into a two year long stalemate -- which Iran planned for and wanted, as they knew such conditions would alienate the American public from the war and force the US to withdraw -- until NATO forces finally withdrew from the war and the region, which allowed Iran and their allies to launch a northern offensive into Kuwait and finally defeating the Arab army in Kuwait and occupying the entire Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Kuwait before a ceasefire was declared.

The war is considered to be the greatest military upset of the 21st Century, and marked the decline of the United States as a superpower. It exposed systemic issues within both the US military, and its political system, causing president Donald Trump's approval ratings to decline and leading to a nationwide protest movement that forced him to resign. The war had a similar effect in Iran: Although the Iranians won, it was at a considerable human and economic cost, thus making the Islamic regime even more unpopular, leading to protests. Two years after the war ended pro-democracy elements within the Iranian army led by Gen. Farzad Hamed launched a mutiny, and marched on Tehran, overthrowing the Islamic Republic.

Background
See: Sanctions against Iran, Iran-United States relations after 1979, Nuclear program of Iran, 2019-20 Persian Gulf crisis, 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Iran.

Timeline
November 26th, 2020: Iran launches Operation Divine Vengeance, preemptively striking US and allied forces in the Persian Gulf with it's Navy and Air Force. The United States Fifth Fleet is completely destroyed. Simultaneously, Iran attacks the allied base at Diego Garcia. The attack occurred on Thanksgiving Day in the US, and completely took the US off guard.

November 27th-28th, 2020: Iran declares war on the US. Iran precedes to invade Bahrain, overthrowing the King and executing the entire royal family. A Shiite puppet government is then installed, and the country is renamed the Islamic Republic of Bahrain.

November 29th-30th, 2020: As Iranian forces rapidly advance across the Persian Gulf on speedboats and reach the United Arab Emirates, the American political elite is divided over what the response should be. Trump had just been re-elected, and the war couldn't have occurred at a worse time for his administration. The Iranian attack failed to galvanize the American public behind Trump, as many Americans still opposed going to war. Trump decided to send troops to the Middle East anyway, and imposes a nationwide draft on the 30th. According to polls, 50% of Americans support the war and the draft. Another 50% oppose the draft.

December 1st, 2020: NATO forces decide to support the US in its war against Iran. NATO member Turkey decides not to send in troops, opting for a peaceful solution to the conflict. Iranian forces had already reached the UAE, and were approaching the city of Dubai. Coalition forces -- consisting of NATO plus a united Arab army led by Saudi Arabia, and commanded by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman -- amassed in Dubai. The US calls for a larger international coalition against Iran at an Security Council meeting. These measures were vetoed by both Russia and China, who then began funding and arming Iran and its proxies.

December 3rd-8th, 2020: Iranian forces arrive in Dubai on December 3rd. The Battle of Dubai has begun. Iranian proxies are sent into the UAE in order to assist Iranian forces. The Iranian Army is led by a young, charismatic general named Farzad Hamed. The US Coalition forces are led by Gen. Maurice Bradshaw. As fighting began, Russia intervenes and invades the UAE on the 6th. The war has become a great power war. With the help of the Russians, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, the Iranian Army takes Dubai and all of the UAE.

December 9th, 2020 - February 2nd, 2020: Iranian and Russian forces continue advancing into Saudi Arabia. On December 15th, they reach the Saudi city of Dammam. Where they encounter both NATO and Arab forces. At this point, the war drags into a stalemate as the Russians and Iranians meet a stiff defense. T

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