My deepest concern is that some regional powers may
inadvertently facilitate these strikes. Nations like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and
the UAE could become staging grounds or provide logistical support, directly
exposing themselves to Iranian retaliation. Tehran’s drone and missile
capabilities are not hypothetical: even a “surgical” US strike could provoke
swift counterattacks, endangering civilian populations and critical
infrastructure across the Gulf.
The most alarming possibility is the elimination of Iran’s
top leadership. While some may view this as a tactical objective, it would
almost certainly trigger a full-scale regional war. We have seen in past
conflicts how targeted killings escalate rather than contain violence,
unleashing cycles of retaliation that spiral beyond anyone’s control. The
economic consequences would be immediate and global: energy markets would
surge, trade routes could be disrupted, and refugee flows would strain
neighboring countries. Extremist groups could exploit chaos, further
destabilizing the region.
The silence of Muslim-majority nations is deafening. By
failing to speak against this looming confrontation, they risk becoming
complicit in a war with no winners. The international community—Washington
included—must recognize that diplomacy and restraint are far more powerful than
pre-emptive strikes. Averted conflict today is exponentially less costly than a
conflagration tomorrow.
We stand at a dangerous crossroads. Leadership demands
foresight, courage, and moral clarity; recklessness promises death,
destruction, and chaos. The world must act now to prevent a spark that could
ignite a fire engulfing an entire region. If we do not, history will judge us
for failing to speak while war loomed on the horizon.
