Iran Israel War: What Happens Next? Experts' Predictions

Could the U.S. Be headed into another war in the Middle East? Israel and Iran have been trading missile and drone strikes. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has refused U.S. On 1 October, Israel began a ground invasion of southern Lebanon. Shortly afterwards, Iran launched more than 180 missiles towards Israel . With the war in Gaza still ongoing, fears of an. After prevaricating about whether the United States would enter Israel ’s war on Iran , President Donald Trump finally made a decision. Early Sunday, US warplanes and submarines struck three of. While Iran and Israel have engaged in a repeated cycle of reciprocal strikes since the 12 June Israeli attack, Iran ’s foreign ministry has emphasised Tehran’s willingness to end its “retaliatory actions” should Israel halt its attacks on the Islamic Republic. In June 2025, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion—a preemptive strike on Iran ’s nuclear and military sites—triggering a massive Iranian missile and drone attack that killed 30 Israeli civilians. Responded with precision airstrikes on Iran ’s key nuclear facilities, leading to a ceasefire on June 23. AJC experts say the conflict reshaped regional dynamics, reaffirmed U.S. Tensions between two Middle Eastern heavyweights have erupted into a full-fledged Israel ‑ Iran war 2025. What’s happening now? In the latest twist, Israel ’s Operation Rising Lion unleashed a devastating wave of airstrikes on Iran ’s military and nuclear infrastructure—including the hardened Natanz enrichment complex—on June 13, 2025. The Israel - Iran conflict is a highly fluid situation with various potential geopolitical outcomes. Below, we outline four potential scenarios for how this conflict could evolve from here, followed by potential implications for the region’s oil and bond markets. The covert war between Israel and Iran has exploded into view. What's next ?