27/04/2026
The war triggered by US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran on Feb. 28 is arguably the result of a combination of geopolitical competition in the Middle East and the political will of the US. Despite initial talk of regime-change objectives, the war has shown signs of becoming prolonged due to the resilience of Iran’s system and its asymmetric responses, revealing the limitations of regime change through external military intervention. At the same time, the crisis is amplifying instability in the international order, including engendering controversies over international law, weakening the nuclear nonproliferation regime, intensifying arms competition in the Middle East and shifting the US alliance structure. Going forward, both the US and Iran are likely to seek exit strategies, while Iran is expected to face a path of either gradual change within regime continuity or further hardening. Amid these changes, South Korea must prepare strategically, including preparing responses related to energy security and supply chains.
https://www.keaf.org/en/book/EAF_Policy_Debates/Is_Peace_Possible_in_the_US-Israeli_War_Against%20Iran