According to Māris Andžāns, director of the Geopolitical Studies Centre and associate professor at Rīga Stradiņš University, the conflict initiated in Iran has reached a critical point where retreat is no longer an option. He mentions the recent military operation codenamed 'Epic Wrath' by the Pentagon indicates the seriousness of the situation. The strikes from Israel and the US come after last year's brief but intense 12-day conflict in which they targeted Iranian nuclear facilities, a conflict that ended swiftly with the influence of then-US President Donald Trump.

Andžāns predicts that the current situation could escalate into a significantly more serious conflict compared to last year's episode. Although he believes that the nature of this conflict is unlikely to become a ground war, he emphasizes that the outcome will largely depend on Iran's response, especially given its stubbornness during recent discussions concerning its nuclear program. This heightened tension is further intensified by the historical context of Iran's resistance and ongoing hostility towards US and Israeli engagement.

Additionally, Andžāns highlights the widespread protests in Iran at the end of last year and the beginning of this year, when Iranian citizens called for regime change, suggesting that these domestic pressures might embolden Israel's recent military actions. The combination of external military threats and internal discontent indicates a complex and potentially volatile situation that could reshape the region’s geopolitical landscape.