By: Natalie Treloar
The Iran War may eventually end through a ceasefire, an interim agreement, or a broader diplomatic settlement. Regardless of how the fighting stops, one thing has become impossible to ignore. The Middle East’s existing security architecture has failed. For decades, the region operated under a series of overlapping assumptions. Gulf states relied heavily on American military protection. Israel maintained its own formidable deterrent capabilities. Arab governments pursued bilateral relationships with Washington while attempting to manage tensions with Tehran through diplomacy, economic engagement, or strategic hedging. The war exposed the limitations of that model.
