Strategic affairs expert warns new US-Iran escalation could collapse ceasefire

TEHRAN, Iran — Strategic affairs expert Hussein al-Asad said on Wednesday that a possible new military escalation between the United States and Iran would threaten regional stability and raise the risk of collapsing existing ceasefire or de-escalation arrangements. In a statement, al-Asad said continued fighting, whether through direct or indirect armed confrontations, carried the risk of widening the theater of conflict, weakening diplomatic efforts and drawing in regional actors. He stressed that maintaining political and diplomatic communication channels is essential to prevent military miscalculation, and called on all sides to exercise restraint and commit to solutions based on international law. The United States has said it will continue negotiations with Tehran despite recent escalation and mutual military operations around the Strait of Hormuz. US Central Command announced it had struck more than 80 Iranian facilities and more than 60 Revolutionary Guards vessels. Iran denies the US presence in the Strait of Hormuz. The US Treasury Department separately revoked Tehran's temporary oil export license, which had been set to run until August.