Iran and Israel have shown preference for a carefully controlled escalation while avoiding a conflict spiral.

Israel’s successful interception of Iranian missiles and drones has restored its image as a superior military power regionally, an image which was dented by the October 2023 Hamas attacks.

The JCPOA revival, to some extent, will continue to depend on the US’s stand on the IRGC’s designation.

China and Iran claim to be building a new security architecture for West Asia on the pretext of keeping out the “unjustified” presence of “foreign forces”.

The Chinese-mediated rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran puts a check on the widening gap between the two regional powers.