Averting the Middle East’s 1914 Moment

Today’s standoff between the U.S. and Iran is reminiscent of tensions on the eve of World War I.

A small incident could blow up into region-spanning conflict.

Third-party mediation is urgently needed to begin de-escalation that could lead to renewing broader talks.

What’s new?

The Trump administration designed its “maximum pressure” campaign to curb Iran’s nuclear program and regional reach by draining its finances.

But Iran has pushed back in a series of incidents, showing its ability to harm U.S. interests and potentially the world economy.

Meanwhile, the 2015 nuclear accord is slowly unravelling.

Why does it matter?

Growing tensions between…