Dr. Suleiman Ishaq Muhammed, a security expert at the Federal University in Dutse’s Department of Criminology and Security Studies, has expressed concern that the war between Iran, Israel, and the US could soon become a global conflict rather than a regional one.
In an exclusive interview with Gistcon, Dr. Muhammed traced the origins of the issue to 1953, when the Shah was installed as Iran’s leader in a coup.
“The genesis of this issue can be traced to 1953, when the Shah assumed power and actively promoted Western ideology in Iran,” he stated.
The Iranian Revolution of 1979, in his view, was a watershed moment.
Iran became anti-Israel and started backing terrorist organisations like Hezbollah and Hamas after that revolution severed ties with the West. “Iran has been fighting against what it perceives as Israel’s attempt to dominate the Middle East ever since that time,” he said.
According to Dr. Muhammed, regional influence and control are at the heart of the current dispute.
Hegemony, supremacy, and the distribution of power in the Middle East are at the heart of the matter. Oil, security, and regional domination are also crucial, he added, adding that nuclear capacity was a part of it.
Nearly all Middle Eastern nations must now account to Israel for the safety of their citizens, the distribution of their oil, and other resources. He asserted that it is currently under Israeli control.
Iraq, Syria, and Palestine, according to Dr. Muhammed, have become entangled in what he called the hegemonic power structure in the region, which is Israel.
He said the present crisis was triggered by what he characterised as Israeli attacks on Iranian interests in Syria in 2024, which exacerbated tensions.
Operation Rising Lion, which he claimed was launched in June 2025, escalated tensions and targeted Iran’s nuclear military installations, he said.
He claims that the Iranian leadership and resistance were intended to be crippled in the joint US-Israeli military assault on February 28, 2026.
He said that the leader’s cripplement was the true goal of the strike.
Following the assassination of Iran’s supreme leader, he continued, the country was widely believed to have surrendered.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s demise, he said, was a watershed moment.
“It is now an issue of escalation, a matter of revenge,” he stated.
Iran, he said, would probably step up its attacks on the United States, Israel, and their allies.
Dr. Muhammed emphasised that nuclear weapons and oil politics are at the heart of the conflict, which extends beyond ideologies.
“Recognising Iran’s uranium enrichment capabilities poses a danger to Israel. A nuclear Iran would undermine Israel’s hegemony and control over the Middle East.”
The impasse in diplomatic efforts to resolve Iran’s nuclear program, he continued, has only served to exacerbate the situation.
Neglected diplomatic discussions
According to Dr. Muhammad, diplomatic efforts to end the nuclear situation in Iran have been thwarted. His claim is that it exacerbated tensions between the US, Israel, and Iran.
The negotiations for the nuclear agreement, he said, had been purposefully obstructed.
“Intense political pressure and threats directed at United States leaders prevented the nuclear deal talks from taking place,” he stated.
He brought attention to the fact that the political obstacles that Trump encountered as president affected the United States’ stance on the war.
When it came to the Jeffrey Epstein papers, other leadership crises, and numerous other concerns that could have deposed President Trump’s government, Trump had few choices. According to Dr. Muhammed, these factors caused the US to align with Israel’s interests instead of seeking a diplomatic solution on its own.
The analyst claims that Israel actually reaped benefits from the discussions’ stalling.
He claimed that Israel would benefit greatly from the war, which would guarantee its control in the region.
According to Dr. Muhammed, the US also benefits from Israel’s regional clout.
When Israel achieves its regional goals, the US will have complete authority over key areas.
“But Iran is still unique; it has fought dominance and sanctions for decades,” he added.
He stressed that sanctions, geopolitical pressure, and obstructed diplomacy all contributed to escalating the crisis.
Dr. Muhammed further brought up the topic of global power dynamics, noting that Iran has strategic connections to nations like Russia and China.
The strategic interests of Iran’s friends are weakened when Iran is undermined. According to him, that’s why this battle is significant on a worldwide scale.
When asked about oil politics, he cautioned that the Strait of Hormuz might become a global flashpoint at the first sign of trouble.
The world’s oil supply would be severely disrupted the moment Iran shuts key oil lines, particularly those that pass through the Strait of Hormuz. He cautioned that this might lead to global economic instability, higher costs, and inflation.
He claimed that tensions in the Middle East have already been raised by recent missile exchanges and retaliation assaults.
“Israel and Iran aren’t the only ones involved anymore. According to him, the battle escalates as soon as friendly areas and military bases are targeted.
He claims the situation might spread outside the Middle East if regional allies from both sides completely engage in the conflict.
The involvement of alliances makes the transformation of a localised conflict into a global war all too possible. He pointed out that the countries concerned have strategic linkages to Europe, Asia, and possibly Africa.
At this point, he emphasised, international safety is under jeopardy.
Alliances, oil politics, nuclear power, and military might are at the heart of this conflict. With that mix, it becomes quite risky,” he emphasised.
In order to prevent the situation from getting worse, Dr. Muhammed urged major states to assist diplomatically.
We need meaningful peace talks, and countries like Germany, Russia, and China are leading the way. Sanctions are insufficient to resolve the issue. He emphasised the importance of dialogue.
Additional military escalation was likewise discouraged, he said.
The further this conflict spreads, the more difficult it will be to contain. He drew the conclusion that the world cannot afford a war that would interrupt oil supplies around the world and bring numerous superpowers into open confrontation.
The World at Large: Dr. Muhamman
According to Dr. Muhammad, the US and Israel’s primary motivation for the war is to further their own interests.
He said the goal is to seize power in Iran.
“Their decision to go to war was originally a short-term plan to topple Iran’s government, disable its nuclear facilities, and neutralise its dominating influence in the Middle East,” Dr. Muhammed exclaimed.
He went on to say that the plan’s stated goal was to hand control of Iran’s strategically important seaports to the United States and Israel as well as access to the country’s oil.
Iran and its allies, especially global powers like Russia and China, rely on these resources, which Dr. Muhammed defined as the purpose.
“The fundamental goal of the US was to execute a fleeting military operation to depose Iran’s regime and compel the nation to capitulate,” he further stated.
But things have altered in a big way.
The war is now an ongoing, protracted operation. The Islamic Republic of Iran has said that it will determine the end of hostilities and has so ignored demands for a truce. Because of this, the war has escalated from an assault on the leadership to a protracted struggle for revenge and deterrence.
While discussing Iran’s military reaction, Dr. Muhammed brought attention to the country’s employment of sophisticated missile technology.
“The world has never seen anything like the ballistic missiles unleashed by Iran. Minute after minute, hour after hour, hundreds of missiles are being constantly aimed at Israel. He went on to say that these missiles are notoriously hard to spot and follow.
A new reality has emerged, and it threatens to derail everyone’s plans to appease Israel, gain regional control for the United States, and achieve Israel’s aim of hegemony. Dr. Muhammed stated that the objective of controlling Iranian oil, diminishing Iran’s influence, and establishing dominance in the Middle East has changed.
Insist on a Stopfire
A number of world leaders and organisations have demanded a halt to the worsening crisis in the Middle East immediately.
China, Turkiye, Malaysia, and the UN, represented by its Secretary-General, have all called on the warring factions to end their hostilities and resume diplomatic talks.