Brinkmanship, the ability to take a country to the edge of war without plunging it into the abyss, was the cornerstone of cold war diplomacy. The first six days of the Iran war cost the US $12.7bn (£9.5bn), but now the Pentagon is seeking as much as $200bn in military funding. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty ImagesThe Iranian regime has no compunction about escalating the war. Earlier in the war Israel bombed four major fuel storage depots surrounding Tehran, causing black rain to fall in the city. But the Gulf is divided over which is the greatest threat: Israel or Iran.

Source: The Guardian March 21, 2026 06:32 UTC