Clionadh Raleigh, a political analyst and the executive director of ACLED, shares insights about the ongoing war in Iran, cautioning that the longer the conflict continues, the higher oil prices will rise and the greater Iran's chances of winning will become. She highlights the strategic importance of the war, noting that it is likely to exacerbate tensions between the United States and other major powers like China and Russia. This situation may lead to a broader geopolitical confrontation that could reshape alliances and complicate international relations.

Additionally, Payam Akhavan, a former UN prosecutor, asserts that the main threat to the Islamic Republic of Iran comes not from external enemies like Israel or the US, but rather from its own population, indicating a potential for significant internal strife. This commentary provides a critical understanding of the multifaceted nature of the conflict, where external factors, such as military movements in the region and escalating oil prices, are interwoven with domestic issues that challenge the Iranian regime.

The analysis includes recent developments, such as Iran laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz and the US deploying air defense systems to the Persian Gulf from South Korea. These actions suggest that the military tensions in the Middle East are far from resolution, prompting analysts like Raleigh to consider the potential for an ongoing cycle of violence and conflict that could have severe consequences for regional and global stability.