Iran's resurgence, Israel's military posture, and U.S. backing create a high-stakes triangle driving the region toward renewed conflict.

Hardline ideologues, who advocate for perennial enmity with the west, have railed against the possibility of re-engaging with the US and attacked Iran’s reformist president Masoud Pezeshkian, who this week suggested he remained amenable to negotiations with Washington.

Israel’s surprise attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities on June 13 launched a 12-day war in which Israeli jets pounded Tehran and other Iranian cities while Iran launched hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones at Israel.