Could US-Iran conflict trigger World War III and nuclear war?

American economist, Director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University (New York), Professor Jeffrey Sachs, said that an armed conflict between the United States and Iran could very likely turn into World War III.

"The United States is not interested in a war with Iran because Iran has allies, including Russia. So a war with Iran could easily turn into World War III, and World War III into a nuclear war," Sachs said in an interview with American journalist Tucker Carlson. The expert added that Israel is trying to drag the United States into "a larger war in the Middle East, which is 100% contrary to American interests."

How likely is it that World War III will break out and then turn into a nuclear war from this very region? And how right is the expert in believing that Israel is trying to draw the US into a “wider war in the Middle East”? Is such a thing in the interests of this country? After all, it directly threatens its existence - America is far away, and Israel, you might say, is next to Iran, in the same region.

Answers to these questions came from well-known foreign experts in an interview with Caliber. Az.

Avraham Shmulevich, a specialist on the Caucasus, the Islamic world and the Middle East and head of the Institute for Eastern Partnership (Jerusalem), believes that the outbreak of World War III is an absolutely improbable thing.

"In the current situation, it is impossible, especially due to the conflict in Iran. Even if a large-scale confrontation were to occur between Israel and the US on one side and Iran on the other, it is inconceivable that Russia would come to Tehran's aid. The relationship between Russia and Iran is quite complex and contradictory. It is by no means a 100% alliance. The same applies to the relationship between Russia and China.

There is also no military alliance between Iran and China. China uses Iran for its oil needs, but that doesn’t mean China would sacrifice its own interests for Iran. Even if Iran were to cease to exist in its current form, China and Russia would not be significantly affected. The notion that if there were a strike on Iran, Russia would retaliate against the US and that China would join in is an entirely unrealistic fantasy. There’s nothing to discuss here," asserts the head of the institute.

Regarding Israel's interest in igniting a wider Middle Eastern conflict, this notion is rooted in anti-Israel propaganda, he explains.

"Israel has no interest in initiating war, and none of the conflicts around it have been started by Israel. It’s important to remember that Iran is the one that has publicly called for the destruction of Israel, as documented in the foundational texts of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Iran is the aggressor. It attacks Israel directly now and has long waged proxy wars against it. Naturally, Israel responds, but its primary goal is to halt these attacks. If Hamas and Hezbollah ceased their aggression, Israel would be content. However, this is unlikely because these terrorist groups are funded and directed by Tehran. Thus, it is logical for Israel to target the source of its threat.

Arab countries neighbouring Iran, which face even greater damage and threats from Iran, would also benefit from such actions. Particularly, the UAE and Saudi Arabia. During Obama’s presidency, which indirectly supported Iran (as Biden’s administration does now), Iran-Israel relations soured, and Saudi Arabia implored Israel to take action against Iran, even offering its airspace. I believe that had Israel acted on this, it would have received covert support from Bahrain, the Emirates, and Saudi Arabia."

However, Israel is keen on resolving all issues without resorting to war, as any war carries significant risks. Nevertheless, I don't believe such an outcome is feasible. Sooner or later, Israel will need to take decisive action, and the sooner it happens, the better. Iran is leaving Israel with no other option.

Regarding the attempt to drag the US into a Middle Eastern war, Israel is not interested in a full-scale conflict. It simply wants to end the constant attacks instigated by Iran.

It is very difficult to envision a full-scale war in this region. I should remind you that Israel has peace treaties and even military-technical cooperation agreements with several Arab states, which are unhappy with Iran's interference on their territories through the support of anti-government militant groups,” the expert noted.

However, he added, what is more intriguing is how this interview with Sachs came about.

"Columbia University is indeed one of the leading American intellectual centers, especially in the realm of foreign policy. As for Tucker Carlson, he is one of the most popular American journalists aligned with the Republican Party, and this article reflects the contradictions and struggles surrounding Israel within the American establishment.

Recently, it's become common to view the Democratic Party as having an anti-Israel stance. However, this isn't entirely accurate. This perception primarily pertains to the radical faction of the Democratic Party, which consists of explicit anti-Semites who oppose the existence of Israel. But they do not represent the majority within the Democratic Party. Similarly, anti-Israel sentiments can also be found among some Republican supporters. It is not coincidental that a large portion of American Jews traditionally vote for Democrats, as the core of the Republican Party includes Christian fundamentalists, some of whom are pro-Israel while others are anti-Semitic.

Carlson's stance on Israel is quite ambiguous. He frequently hosts authors with anti-Israel viewpoints, and the aforementioned interview should be understood in this context. It should also be viewed within the framework of the American electoral struggle, as the position of the Republicans on Israel is being shaped.

Going back to the beginning, Israel is not interested in launching a war, but a war has already been launched against Israel. But the Netanyahu government wants to put the Iranian issue on hold and does not want to risk launching a full-scale strike against Iran,’ Shmulevich explained.

https://caliber.az/en/post/could-us-iran-conflict-trigger-world-war-iii-and-nuclear-war