The confrontation has raised urgent questions about Washington’s strategic objectives, the possibility of regime change in Tehran, and whether the conflict risks drawing in other powers across the region.
There are also growing concerns about the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow but strategically vital waterway through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes each day. As tensions continue to intensify, any disruption to shipping through the passage could have significant consequences for global oil supply, potentially sending shockwaves through international energy markets and economies around the world.
Emeritus Professor Carlyle Thayer, a long-time analyst of war and strategic conflict, has spent decades studying the dynamics of international security.
Speaking with The Wire’s Patrick Dunstan, he was first asked how significant the current escalation between the United States, Israel and Iran really is.
Image: Image/shutterstock-Gergitek
Produced By: Patrick Dunstan
Featured In Story: Emeritus Professor Carlyle Thayer
First aired on The Wire, Wednesday 11 March 2026