Priyanka Tiwari
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Suspense crime, Digital Desk : The Middle East is holding its breath, precariously poised on the brink of a wider conflict following direct military strikes by the United States against Iran. The world now watches Tehran, which is carefully weighing its options for a retaliation that could either be a calculated, face-saving measure or the opening salvo in a devastating, region-wide "long war."
Tehran now faces a critical and perilous choice. It is under immense pressure from internal hardliners to respond forcefully to what it views as an act of aggression. However, its leaders are also acutely aware that a full-scale conventional war with the military might of the United States would be catastrophic for the country.
Because of this, analysts predict that Iran is unlikely to engage in a direct, head-on military conflict. Instead, the world is bracing for a calculated and multi-fronted retaliation through Iran's well-established playbook of asymmetric warfare. This could include:
Activating Proxy Militias: Unleashing attacks on U.S. forces and interests via its network of allied groups in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon (Hezbollah), and Yemen (the Houthis).
Disrupting Global Trade: Threatening or attacking commercial shipping in the vital Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for a fifth of the world's oil supply.
Cyberattacks: Launching disruptive cyberattacks against critical infrastructure in the U.S. or its allies.
The fear rippling across the region, from Israel to Saudi Arabia, is that any retaliation, no matter how carefully calibrated, could spiral out of control. A response from Iran would almost certainly trigger a counter-response from the U.S. and its allies, creating a domino effect that could drag the entire region into the "long war" that many have feared for years.
Global capitals are now engaged in urgent, high-stakes diplomacy to de-escalate the situation. But the next move belongs to Iran. That decision will determine whether the Middle East can pull back from the abyss or if it is about to descend into a new and dangerous era of open conflict.
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