Relations between the United States and Iran have long remained one of the most complex and unstable issues in modern international relations. Today, this confrontation has expanded beyond a bilateral diplomatic dispute and evolved into a major strategic conflict directly affecting the global economy and international security. In particular, the military conflicts unfolding in the Middle East between 2024 and 2026, combined with disputes surrounding Iran’s nuclear program, have further intensified tensions between the two countries.
Observing the current situation, it is clear that the United States and Iran are actively engaged in a form of “cold war”-style confrontation. Since the outbreak of the Israel–Hamas war in Gaza, Iran-backed groups such as Hezbollah and the Houthis have repeatedly attacked international shipping routes in the Red Sea, directly targeting U.S. interests and escalating tensions between the two states. At the same time, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has repeatedly warned that Iran’s uranium enrichment levels are approaching the threshold necessary for nuclear weapons development, creating significant concern in Washington.
The U.S. administration describes Iran as a sponsor of regional instability and a violator of the international order, while Tehran portrays the United States as an external power seeking dominance in the Middle East and threatening the sovereignty of regional states. The primary goals of the United States are to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, protect the security of Israel and its Gulf allies, and secure international maritime trade routes that are essential to the global economy. Iran, meanwhile, characterizes its military activities and missile program as part of the “Axis of Resistance,” framing them as a legitimate effort to defend its sovereignty from Western influence.
This confrontation has also generated major debates in the field of international law. Both sides claim that their military strikes are justified under Article 51 of the UN Charter concerning the right to self-defense. However, international human rights organizations and UN special rapporteurs have repeatedly warned that the actions of both parties may violate international humanitarian law and the principle of state sovereignty. For example, attacks on vessels in the Red Sea directly violate Articles 87 and 90 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which guarantee freedom of navigation.
The effects of this conflict extend far beyond the two countries involved. Economically, instability in the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea — key routes for global oil transportation — has contributed to rising fuel prices and increased risks of global economic downturn.
The instability in the Middle East, particularly the escalating tensions between the United States and Iran, has also intensified the displacement of Iranian civilians. Economic sanctions, military conflict, and political repression have combined to force many citizens to flee their homeland. Following the military strikes that began on February 28, 2026, approximately 3.2 million Iranians were displaced from their homes within just two weeks. Most of them relocated internally from Tehran and other major cities to rural northern regions of the country. The European Union Agency for Asylum has warned that refugee flows could reach “unprecedented levels.” As a result, neighboring countries as well as European states are facing growing humanitarian and social challenges.
At present, relations between the United States and Iran remain one of the most fragile flashpoints threatening international peace. If the ongoing confrontation between the two countries continues to escalate, it risks dragging the entire Middle East into a broader war. Therefore, active engagement by the international community, the United Nations, and mediating states remains the only realistic path toward resolving this crisis diplomatically and reducing the growing threats to global stability.
