The Adversarial: War in Iran Shapes Adversaries’ Calculations

Following joint U.S. and Israeli military strikes against Iran, Tehran has initiated a counter-offensive despite its porous defenses. Iran's response involves firing hundreds of drones and missiles not just at Israel, but also at neighboring Gulf countries. This strategy aims to create economic and diplomatic pressure on Washington by threatening major energy producers and strategic waterways, betting that it can outlast its foes. However, this approach risks turning countries that preferred to remain neutral into active adversaries.