The war in Iran continues with no end in sight. And, worse than that, it continues without a clear purpose and without both sides showing interest in stopping the spiral that they themselves are fueling. The Middle East has become accustomed to living in permanent tension, but what is happening now is no longer tension: it is a game of geopolitical Russian roulette, in which everyone loads the gun and pretends they don’t know who will pull the trigger.
The Israeli attack on the South Pars natural gas field, carried out with logistical and intelligence support from the United States, was yet another of those gestures that mix tactical calculation with strategic imprudence. Israel wanted to send a message, but Iran did not just receive it: it returned it in an expanded form.
The retaliation over a gas field in Qatar, which caused losses valued at 20 billion dollars, was Tehran’s way of reminding the world that it does not accept attacks on its energy infrastructure without retribution. In Gulf chess, each piece captured has a price, and Iran made a point of presenting the invoice. Donald Trump’s reaction, telling Israel not to attack Iranian oil infrastructure again, is revealing. The American president realized that the conflict is entering a zone where the costs exceed the gains.
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