Experts Discuss the Widening Scope of US-Israeli Attacks on Iran

Why It Matters

Escalating attacks on civilian targets and threats to close the Strait of Hormuz jeopardize global oil supplies and could destabilize the Middle East, forcing major powers to reassess their strategic and energy policies.

Key Takeaways

• US and Israeli strikes now target Iranian civilian infrastructure.
• Iran threatens to close Strait of Hormuz, escalating maritime risks.
• Public rallies in Iran support government against foreign aggression.
• Experts warn conflict could fragment Iran, benefiting US/Israel strategic goals.
• U.S. hesitation to release strategic oil reserves fuels energy market uncertainty.

Summary

The panel examined how the United States and Israel have expanded their campaign against Iran beyond military installations to include residential buildings, schools and other civilian infrastructure. The discussion highlighted recent incidents, such as three commercial vessels struck near the Strait of Hormuz and Israeli air raids on Tehran’s Meccabad airport, underscoring a shift toward broader, population‑wide pressure.

Analysts argued that the strategy aims to sow chaos, weaken the Iranian regime’s legitimacy and potentially fragment the country, creating a geopolitical environment favorable to U.S. and Israeli objectives. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps has threatened to shut the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil conduit, while the United States has so far refrained from tapping its strategic petroleum reserve, raising questions about energy‑policy calculations.

Abbas Aslani warned that targeting civilian infrastructure is intended to force reconstruction burdens on the Iranian state and provoke internal unrest. Sultan Barakat warned that a fragmented Iran could spiral into civil war and regional conflict, further destabilizing Gulf neighbors. The experts also noted that public funerals for senior commanders have galvanized popular support for the government, contrary to U.S. expectations of anti‑regime protests.

The widening scope of attacks threatens global oil shipments, could trigger higher energy prices, and may push Iran to jeopardize long‑standing ties with Gulf states. Policymakers must weigh the risk of a prolonged maritime choke‑point against the broader strategic calculus of the United States and its allies, as the conflict’s economic and geopolitical reverberations extend far beyond the region.

Original Description

US and Israeli strikes in Iran, including civilian and infrastructure targets, highlight a shift in strategy.

Iran threatens to shut the Strait of Hormuz, impacting global oil trade and regional economies.

Abas Aslani, senior research fellow at the Center for Middle East Strategic Studies and Sultan Barakat, professor of public policy at Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Qatar weigh in on the geopolitical and public fallout.

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