The US‑Iran war has entered an extremely perilous phase, with neither side willing to retreat and the theatre of hostilities expanding across the region. Hopes that last week’s lull in violence might pave the way for renewed diplomacy have quickly evaporated. Instead, the conflict has spread geographically, drawing in new actors and raising the risk of a catastrophic miscalculation.

In recent days, fighting has extended to Iraq and Egypt, complicating efforts to contain the crisis. On Monday, Saudi Arabia was struck by drone attacks on oil facilities in its eastern region, reportedly carried out by pro‑Iran militias based in Iraq — a charge Tehran has denied. In retaliation, Saudi forces, working alongside the Americans, targeted several sites in Iraq, resulting in casualties. This marks the first major public involvement of Saudi Arabia in combat during the current war. Meanwhile, Egypt’s port of Damietta came under drone attack on Wednesday, though no group claimed responsibility.

The escalation has not stopped there. The United States has struck the Iranian island of Qeshm, causing civilian fatalities, while Iran has retaliated by hitting facilities in Jordan and Kuwait. Ukraine’s targeting of an Iranian vessel in the Caspian Sea last week added yet another layer of complexity to an already volatile situation. With so many actors now involved, the danger of miscalculation is immense. A single misfired drone or missile could ignite a larger exchange of fire, as the recent spate of attacks and counter‑attacks has demonstrated.

The Foreign Office rightly observed that diplomacy remains the “only viable path forward.” The Islamabad MoU continues to offer a framework for peace, should Washington and Tehran choose to pursue it. The United States, as the aggressor in this conflict, must take the first step by acknowledging that the war was a mistake and pledging to work toward peace. Iran, in turn, should respond positively to such overtures, particularly by adopting a more flexible stance on the Strait of Hormuz. Keeping this vital waterway closed to global marine traffic is harming the international community, including Iran’s own allies and sympathisers.

Rationality demands that all sides step back from the brink. Yet the current occupant of the White House is not known for measured choices, and Israel’s prime minister’s recent visit to Washington raises questions about the advice being offered to the American leadership. If both the US and Iran continue climbing the escalation ladder, the eventual result may be a catastrophic regional war.

Still, there remains a narrow window for diplomacy. If Washington and Tehran employ the good offices of interlocutors such as Pakistan and other regional states, a negotiated settlement is possible. But time is running out, and the opportunity to prevent a wider conflagration may not remain open indefinitely.