For sure, the ongoing war involving the United States and Israel against Iran is a deeply troubling development in international relations. This conflict has raised serious moral, humanitarian, and economic concerns. Instead of celebrating or glorifying this war, we must view it with caution and concern because its consequences extend far beyond the Middle East.
We all know, the conflict began after coordinated US and Israel military strikes against Iranian targets following years of rising tensions over Iran’s nuclear programme and regional security issues. Since then, the war has escalated with retaliatory missile attacks, destruction of infrastructure, and rising casualties across the region.
My posit i o n i s that any war should never be glorified because it leads to immense human suffering. Civilians, especially women and children, often carry the heaviest burden. The humanitarian consequences are severe and long-lasting. If this conflict continues, we should expect a wider regional or global confrontation, drawing in more countries and causing greater global destruction.
It is important to make it clear that this conflict should not be interpreted as a religious war. Unfortunately, I have heard some believers promote this narrative. But religion must never be used to justify violence or political ambitions. The teachings of many faith traditions, including Christianity and Islam, emphasise compassion, peace, and respect for human life.
Those of us who are true believers understand that the message of Jesus Christ is not about promoting religious superiority or destroying other nations. His message is about reconciliation, love, and justice. God does not promote the agenda that one nation or religion is superior to another.
I believe in the eyes of God, human i t y is one family. Whether a person is Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, or from any other faith, all people share the same dignity and value. It cannot be the will of God that people are killed in His name. Any attempt to justify war using religion is dangerous, morally and spir itual ly misguided.
Another serious concern is the enormous economic cost of war. Modern warfare consumes vast financial resources that could otherwise address global challenges such as poverty, education, and healthcare. Every year the world spends trillions of dollars on military. As Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai once observed: “If the whole world stopped spending money on the military for just eight days, we could have the $39 billion needed to provide 12 years of free, quality education to every child on the planet.” This view reminds us that resources used for war could, instead, transform nations through development and human progress.
Importantly, we must u n d e r s t an d t ha t t h e consequences of this war are not limited to the Middle East. Even countries far away, including those in Africa such as Malawi, are already feeling the effects. Rising tensions in the Persian Gulf has threatened global oil supplies, leading to higher oil prices. As fuel prices rise, transport costs will also increase, which eventually pushes up the prices of food and other basic goods.
For a country like Malawi, which depends heavily on imported fuel, this means a higher cost of living for citizens. This reality shows that even though the war is far from us, its impact is directly affecting us. For this reason, there is no sense for glorifying this war.
Therefore, the war against Iran should not be celebrated. It is an unnecessary conflict, a miscalculation that has already threatened global stability and human security.
The world will no longer be the same. What the world needs today is to enhance dialogue, cooperation, and respect for human dignity. Peace not war must remain the ultimate goal for humanity
