Can Iran and Israel Find a New Equilibrium?
The New York Times
Even with peace talks underway, the region is far from stable.
The Middle East is still in a state of volatile uncertainty after the latest exchange of missiles between Israel and Iran.
Last weekend, Israel destroyed much of Iran’s air-defense system, as well as a major Iranian missile plant. This week, two top Iranian officials threatened to continue the cycle of retaliation.
“We have never left an aggression unanswered in 40 years,” said Gen. Ali Fadavi, the deputy commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps, according to Iranian media.
In my column several weeks ago, I looked at how the deadly Oct. 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas, the Israeli invasion of Gaza, and the widening war between Israel, Iran and Iranian-backed militant groups have destabilized the equilibrium of power in the Middle East. The new mix of uncertainty and aggression threatens to spiral into all-out war.
Even with dual-track peace talks underway to resolve conflicts between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, and between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, the region is far from stable. Add in the uncertainty of the U.S. election next week, and the prospect of re-establishing an equilibrium seems even more remote.
I talked to experts on game theory and international relations about how they see the situation, and what they expect in the coming weeks and months.
