Since the onset of American-Israeli bombing, Iran has launched retaliatory strikes against Israel and several neighboring countries including Jordan, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Iraq, Oman, and more recently Azerbaijan. Notably, a missile aimed at Turkey was intercepted by NATO's air defense system. This article discusses the potential expansion of the conflict and the radical shift in Iran's military engagement, highlighting Tehran's desperate narrative of survival which has prompted it to inflict suffering on its neighboring states as a warning against the U.S. involvement. According to Matyáš Zrno, the editor of Aktuálně, the Iranian regime hopes that the wealthier oil-rich nations will pressure the U.S. to de-escalate the situation, fearing that further conflict could harm their economies dependent on oil and tourism.

However, the strategy might backfire as traditional adversaries, particularly the Persian Gulf Arab states, have a long history of rivalry with Iran, which is predominantly Persian and Shia Muslim. Iran and Saudi Arabia are already engaged in a struggle for influence through proxy wars in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. The complexities of sectarian rivalries and geopolitical stakes heighten the stakes of the current conflict, potentially leading to an expanded regional confrontation that could involve various international players if not handled diplomatically.