Prior to the 1979 revolution, the lion was a central feature on the Iranian national flag. The lion also happens to be a recurring theme in both of Israel’s campaigns against the Islamic Republic, from “rising” to “roaring”. But what happens inside the lion’s den of the Iran War is now up to US President Donald Trump, who has the various military, economic, diplomatic and political factors to consider in a decision to either pursue the war – now at the 12-day mark – or wind it down.

