Summary:
No one seems to want an escalation in the Middle East conflict that pits the U.S. directly against Iran. Even so, escalation remains a dangerous possibility. Perhaps the best way to limit escalation would be a ceasefire or even a limited pause in the Gaza conflict to return hostages. Absent this hiatus in Gaza, avoiding escalation would require the surrounding countries to believe the costs will outweigh the benefits. We are not there yet.
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