'Horizontal Escalation': US-Israel-Iran War Threatens Global Economic Catastrophe

• The US-Israel war with Iran involves competing escalation concepts, with Iran employing "horizontal escalation" to widen the conflict geographically and economically.
• Despite leadership losses including Ali Khamenei, Iran's clerical regime persists, and its highly enriched uranium stockpile remains unsecured.
• Iran's strategy targets Gulf states and shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, aiming to increase costs for Washington and the global economy, particularly energy supplies.
• US historian Robert Pape indicates the conflict is in "stage two," nearing "stage three," where much riskier options are contemplated, driven by an "illusion of control."
• Israel signals further escalation in Lebanon against Hezbollah, while former US envoy Robert Malley warns of unprecedented levels of conflict, including ground troops and potential terrorist attacks.