The Regional and Global Significance of the US-Led Attack on Iran

The US and Israel have launched major strikes on Iran, triggering retaliation across the region and raising fears of wider war.

As tensions escalate around the Strait of Hormuz and across the region, the implications extend far beyond the Middle East. In this episode of Global Security Briefing, Neil Melvin is joined by Dr Burcu Ozcelik, RUSI Senior Research Fellow, and Dr Roxane Farmanfarmaian, a specialist on Iranian and regional politics and an Associate Fellow with RUSI, to analyse the regional and global significance of the crisis.

This episode explores:

• What the US and Israel are seeking to achieve, and how Iran is responding.
• Whether the strikes could threaten the survival of Iran's political system established in 1979.
• The risks of escalation and miscalculation across Iraq, Lebanon, the Gulf, and the Red Sea.
• The prospects for leadership disruption, succession dynamics, and elite cohesion inside Iran.
• The potential roles of Russia and China as diplomatic or strategic actors.
• The UK's response and whether it has adopted the right approach.
• Key scenarios for how the conflict may evolve in the coming days.