The ongoing “Epic Fury” strikes launched by the US against Iran are not merely another chapter in a forty-seven-year feud. They are a violent warning shot aimed not just at Tehran, but at the entire Global South.

When the US bombs a member of the BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), it is sending a clear message to every nation from Southeast Asia to South America that seeks to chart its own course any attempt to cultivate partnerships aside from the US and its dollar hegemony will be met with brute force.

The fact that we are witnessing another conflict is unsurprising. The fact, the operation was not named the “Big Beautiful Strike”, or BBS in line with the US President’s penchant for gawdy slogans is. The rest was vastly predictable – the Israel initiating strikes, the hand of the U.S. being ‘forced’ to join in and even the Iranian promise ‘to go all out’.

Washington's actions must be understood as yet another desperate action against the emerging multipolar world. The imperial playbook is old, but the objective remains the same: to hold back the rising tide of nations whether in the Middle East, Latin America or Asia, that are building new economic architecture through cooperation with China and other powers.

The bombing of Iran should serve as a brutal object lesson for the rest of the Middle East. It is designed to demonstrate that the US retains the capacity to dismantle the infrastructure of a nation that dares to align with partners that it disapproves of or simply has a mind of its own when it comes to security and self-defense. The message is meant to resonate in the Gulf capitals and beyond: diversify your security and economic ties at your own peril.

But the target audience extends far beyond the Middle East. It includes the nations of ASEAN, which have been carefully resisting relentless pressure to align against China. The contrast in behaviour could not be starker. While there are tensions in the South China Sea, China engages in diplomacy and joint development. Compare this to the U.S. track record of regime change projects, crippling sanctions, and outright military interventions that have left a trail of destruction from Venezuela to Iraq. In the case of Iran, most of these aims are stated outright.

The US strategy is to make "examples" across multiple regions. In Latin America, the relentless economic warfare and threats against Venezuela and Cuba aim to crush the last bastions of resistance in what it sees as its “backyard.” In the Middle East, Iran is the primary target. Given this pattern, it is naive to think Southeast Asia will be spared.

The flashpoints are already visible. The Philippines, assuming the ASEAN chairmanship in 2026, is being aggressively courted as a launchpad for US strategic interests. Meanwhile, long-dormant tensions, such as the border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia, remain vulnerable to external manipulation. A destabilised mainland Southeast Asia serves the interests of those who wish to disrupt the region's quiet integration with Chinese-led infrastructure and trade networks.

Malaysia, in particular, stands at a crossroads. Recent statement by the authorities regarding foreign involvement in an attempt to undermine or even overthrow its democratically elected government should raise eyebrows. The toolkit of regime change is not limited to cruise missiles; it includes economic coercion, currency manipulation, information warfare, and the funding of proxy actors to destabilise legitimate governments from within.

What is the lesson of the US bombing of Iran for the rest of us? It is that the path to true independence is fraught with danger but submission is not an option either. Malaysia and its regional partners must look at the passivity of multilateral institutions in the face of such aggression and understand that ultimately, survival depends on internal strength and genuine, mutually respectful partnerships.

ASEAN and other regional and inter-governmental groupings must redouble their efforts to build resilience. This means accelerating security cooperation with like-minded regional partners who respect each other’s sovereign developmental paths without external interference. It means intensifying the exchange of intelligence, experience, and technology specifically designed to combat destabilisation efforts by foreign actors.

This is not a call to take up arms but to ensure that strong regional networks and cooperation will act as a deterrent against such external aggression no matter the aggressor. The attacks on Venezuela and the kidnapping of its president would not have been possible if Latin America presented a united front and the bombing of Iran would not be possible without various neighbouring countries allowing the use of their airbases and airspace to conduct strikes.

The bombing of Iran is a reminder that the transition to a multipolar world will not be peaceful but rest assured that it is inevitable. Now is the time for advocates of this new multipolar order to act and build its foundations and resist those seeking to prolong an order that no longer aligns with the developmental aspirations of the Global South.

Dr Julia Roknifard is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Law and Governance, Taylor’s University and an observer of the Middle East politics.

** The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of Astro AWANI.