Bamo Nouri, City St George’s, University of London and Inderjeet Parmar, City St George’s, University of London Let’s begin with a simple question that rarely gets a straight answer: what would victory over Iran actually look like? In Washington and Jerusalem, the answers tend to sound definitive: eliminate Iran’s nuclear capability, break its
Jennifer Parker, The University of Western Australia; UNSW Sydney Wednesday’s ceasefire announcement by President Donald Trump, linked to Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz, prompted immediate optimism shipping would quickly resume. It didn’t. The following morning, traffic remained minimal. A handful of vessels, largely linked to Iran, made the transit. But most of
Ph. China and Russia view the U.S. grand strategy as increasingly out of focus. AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson Jeffrey Taliaferro, Tufts University “Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.” Napoleon Bonaparte’s maxim may well have been in the minds of policymakers in Moscow and Beijing these past weeks, as the
Jean-Pierre Darnis, Université Côte d’Azur The situation in the Middle East represents a negative framework for Italy, which, like its European partners, is a mere spectator watching a conflict that it does not endorse. Italy is both an exporting nation, sensitive to global economic cycles, and a country characterised by its dependence on
Ph. The Conversation, CC BY-SA Justin Bergman, The Conversation; Matt Garrow, The Conversation, and Mitchell Costello, The Conversation Since the United States and Israel launched their war against Iran in late February, Iran has retaliated by targeting commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, effectively shutting down the narrow channel of water. It’s
by Clark Merrefield, The Journalist’s Resource U.S. and Israeli attacks in Iran have reportedly killed more than 1,300 people since the war there began late last month. Missile and drone strikes have destroyed or closed significant energy infrastructure across the Middle East. The effective closing of the Strait of Hormuz — 20% of
Ph. The AN/FPS-132 early warning radar can scan a range of 3,000 miles (4,828 km). U.S. Air Force Aaron Brynildson, University of Mississippi The global price of oil continues to skyrocket as Iran’s missiles and drones hit vital infrastructure in Arab Gulf states. Billion-dollar American radar systems have also been targeted and destroyed
John Calabrese, American University China has perfected the role of concerned onlooker as the Middle East conflict spreads across the region. With no direct role in the conflict and some 4,200 miles (6,800 kilometers) away from the action, Beijing has a little more breathing room to work out the calculus on how the
Michael Klein, Tufts University The “fog of war” refers to confusion and uncertainty on the battlefield and the attendant possibility of fatal error. This principle has a parallel when it comes to the economic consequences of wars as well, especially when they occur in a region that is a chokepoint for the production
Scott Lucas, University College Dublin The conflict in the Middle East is now in its sixth day and is showing no sign of letting up. Israeli and US warplanes have continued to strike targets inside Iran, which has prompted retaliatory attacks throughout the region. An American submarine has also sunk an Iranian navy