HEATH MUCHENA | Iran war has exposed the limits of US power in the Middle East (opens original article in a new tab)

The US's Middle East strategy faces challenges as Iran's resilience and Gulf states' hedging reshape regional power dynamics, making the region more multipolar and less predictable.

• The US regional strategy in the Middle East is less certain after the conflict with Iran
• Iran's economy and political system face pressure but it can retaliate and raise costs for global actors
• Gulf states are hedging by maintaining US ties while deepening relations with Iran and China
• Israel's military advantages are challenged by ongoing conflicts and regional instability
• The Middle East is becoming post-certainty as old US-dominated order shifts to a multipolar one
• China benefits from US focus on Middle East conflicts