Escalation by Default: The Perpetual Cycle of Miscalculation in the Middle East The latest round of military strikes between the United States and Iran is a grim reminder that the region remains stuck in a cycle of escalation and miscalculation.
US forces have attacked missile launch sites and mine laying vessels in southern Iran, marking the latest chapter in a story that has been unfolding for years. Recent history suggests this development was inevitable.
The Biden administration's attempts to revive the 2015 nuclear deal were met with skepticism from Tehran, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signaled his country would not be rushed into negotiations.