Global Times: Conflict between US, Israel, Iran spiraling out of control

It has been a full month since the United States and Israel launched military strikes against Iran on February 28, a campaign that has yet to achieve its intended objectives and shows no signs of slowing, says an article by Global Times.

The conflict, initiated amid ongoing negotiations, is edging steadily toward the brink of losing control. “What is urgently needed now is to prevent this conflict—one that should never have happened—from sliding into the abyss of complete loss of control,” one report stated.

In just one month, the escalation has far exceeded initial expectations. Hostilities have spread from the Persian Gulf to the eastern Mediterranean and from the Strait of Hormuz to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Beyond Iran and Israel, Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain have experienced direct strikes, putting civilian safety and critical infrastructure at risk.

The US initially projected the conflict would last “four to five weeks” and repeatedly claimed it would “end soon,” but experts say modern warfare rarely follows a pre-set trajectory. The attempt at a “swift and decisive victory” has collapsed, exposing the consequences of reckless military intervention in the Middle East.

Observers describe the conflict as marked by strategic miscalculations and moral failures. From the school tragedy in Minab to the “black toxic rain” in Tehran, repeated strikes on nuclear facilities have raised global alarm and heightened the risk of radioactive contamination. The war has triggered energy crises, disrupted supply chains, and caused economic uncertainty worldwide. With the Strait of Hormuz restricted, international oil prices have surged past $112 per barrel, with analysts warning of a potential global recession if hostilities continue.

The conflict’s expansion beyond military targets is particularly concerning. Both sides have struck civilian infrastructure, including oil refineries, desalination plants, and power stations. The entry of the Houthi movement into the war has opened a new front, raising risks to Red Sea shipping lanes and driving global logistics costs higher. US deployment of 3,500 sailors and marines further raises the possibility of a ground offensive.

Public opposition is also growing. “Enough: end the eternal war,” read a slogan in Tel Aviv on March 28, one month into the conflict, while more than 3,100 related protests were held across the US calling for “no more war.” Even the director of the US National Counterterrorism Center reportedly resigned in protest.

By Vafa Guliyeva