Israel-Iran showdown puts the whole world in uncharted territory

The attack represents a new status quo for the Middle East. Whatever stability and optimism existed previously is now effectively gone. It is all but assured that Israel will retaliate, and Tehran has warned that such a move would draw an even greater Iranian response.

The consequences of the Israel-Iran showdown will be global, representing one of the most significant geopolitical moments in the 21st century. It adds another dimension to the geopolitical landscape at a time when the world is already facing a myriad of crises.

One of the biggest consequences is for the United States. Iran’s actions show that the world now views America differently. This is a hard pill for Washington to swallow. Just a short time ago, Iran would have never dared to take such bold, direct action against Israel. But now it has done just that. This is a telling sign: US adversaries are willing to test Washington like never before and are willing to do things that were once unthinkable.

While Iran is one headache for the US, closely watching in the background are Russia, China and North Korea, all of whom have their own geopolitical agendas. In the capitals of these countries, a new line of thinking may well have surfaced: if Iran can go this far, how far could we push things?

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World leaders call for de-escalation after Iran launches air attack on Israel

Then, there is the split in the Middle East itself. It was not just Western nations that came to Israel’s defence. Jordan closed its airspace and then intercepted Iranian drones and missiles with its own forces. It was a surprising move, given that just a few months ago, Jordan pulled out of a renewable energy deal with Israel and the United Arab Emirates. Now, suddenly, Jordan is coming to