After Iran… Who Is Next?

Every time the drums of war echo across the Middle East, the same question resurfaces in the minds of millions: Who is next? And why are decisions of war and peace formulated in Washington more than in the region’s own capitals?

Since the end of the Cold War, the United States has stood as the world’s dominant superpower. This position has been built upon clear military, economic, and political superiority, enabling Washington to exert direct influence over the course of international conflicts.

In the Middle East in particular, this dominance has manifested through direct military interventions and, in some cases, indirect involvement, as well as through political alignments. Among the most prominent features of this order has been unwavering support for Israel, widely viewed as Washington’s closest ally and, in many respects, its strategic military arm in the region.

Washington presents its policies through the language of protecting national security and promoting stability. Critics, however, argue that it frequently makes decisions of war without sufficient regard for international norms or the positions of global institutions.

This approach is also widely perceived as favouring Israel’s security and strategic interests, whether through military support or political cover in international forums.

According to many across the Arab and Muslim worlds, this unconditional support has granted Israel broad freedom of action in the region, reinforcing the perception that international justice is tilted in its favour.

In Palestine, the conflict has persisted for decades, with Israel facing accusations of continuing occupation, expanding settlements, and extending its control at the expense of Palestinian rights. In Lebanon and Syria, repeated military strikes and incursions have taken place under various security justifications.

With Iran, confrontation has escalated to unprecedented levels, ranging from economic sanctions and covert security operations to direct military threats and, most recently, the war unfolding today.

Critics of Israeli policy argue that these actions reflect an expansionist approach that does not recognise clear limits, and that the concept of “preventive security” has evolved into a permanent justification for the use of force beyond borders.

Some analysts also argue that each time Israel achieves a security or political objective, it rapidly moves toward a new target. This pattern reinforces the impression that its strategic ambitions remain open to further influence and expansion.

The continuation of military dominance without a just political horizon threatens to produce recurring cycles of violence whose consequences will not remain confined to a single state. Only genuine adherence to international law and mutual recognition of rights can halt the path of escalation.

Across the Arab and Muslim worlds today, there is growing concern that the current chain of confrontations may not end at Iran’s borders. Speculation is circulating that other major regional powers, such as Egypt and Türkiye, could one day become targets of political or strategic pressure within a broader vision that sees Israel seeking to neutralise or weaken all major regional actors before establishing near-complete dominance over the Middle East.

Although such fears remain within the realm of political estimation, based on certain developments on the ground, such as tensions between Israel and Türkiye in Syria, they reflect a deep level of mistrust toward the intentions of major powers and toward the nature of regional power balances.

Equally controversial is what many describe as the double standards in the positions of certain Western states. Harsh sanctions are imposed on some countries, while criticism of Israel is often met with limited diplomatic statements carrying little practical impact. This reality reinforces a broader perception, particularly among countries of the Global South, that international law is applied selectively and that the scales of justice often tilt in favour of strategic interests.

Despite all of this, the central question remains unresolved: will the region slide toward further escalation, or will the balance of deterrence impose new limits on the logic of power?

The continued reliance on military superiority without a fair political framework risks producing repeated cycles of violence whose consequences will extend far beyond any single state. Only genuine commitment to international law and the mutual recognition of rights can bring the escalation to an end and allow the peoples of the region to live without the persistent shadow of the question: after Iran, who will be next?

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