Is the Israel-Iran Conflict Pushing the World Toward World War 3?

A war-like standoff between Israel and Iran, alongside the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, has reignited global concerns about the possibility of a third world war. Both Israel and Iran are backed by major global powers: Israel enjoys strong support from the United States and maintains strategic ties with the United Kingdom and Germany, while Iran counts Russia and China among its key allies, according to reports.

As tensions escalate in the Middle East, many are questioning whether the world is edging closer to a global conflict. US President Donald Trump has voiced his frustration over Iran’s unwillingness to reach a nuclear agreement. He stated that he is now seeking “a real end” to the standoff and demands a “complete surrender” of Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. Iran, however, maintains that its nuclear program serves only peaceful purposes.

However, deeper American involvement—potentially through supplying Israel with bunker-busting bombs capable of destroying Iran’s deeply buried nuclear sites or offering other forms of direct military support—carries significant risks. A full-scale world war would likely require the direct involvement of all the major global powers, a scenario that remains highly improbable at this stage, according to a report by Yorkshire Live.

The ongoing Israel-Iran conflict has already inflicted significant destruction and casualties on both sides. Israeli airstrikes have devastated key weapons depots and manufacturing facilities across Iran. Claiming “aerial superiority” over Tehran, Israel reports that its relentless air campaign has crippled Iran's air defenses and struck multiple sites across the capital. These strikes have reportedly eliminated much of the leadership and intelligence officers of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, a powerful paramilitary group overseeing the country's ballistic missile arsenal, and have also killed several top nuclear scientists.

In retaliation, Iran has launched ballistic missile attacks across Israel, targeting locations from the northern coastal city of Haifa and the Arab-Israeli city of Tamra to the southern village of Zavdiel. Strikes have damaged buildings in and around major urban centers, including Tel Aviv.

Meanwhile, the conflict has triggered a humanitarian exodus. More than 600 people from 17 different nationalities have fled Iran into Azerbaijan within five days of the air war’s onset, Reuters reported, citing an Azerbaijani source. The evacuees include citizens from Russia, the United States, Germany, Spain, Italy, Serbia, Romania, Portugal, China, Vietnam, the UAE, Georgia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

Inside Israel, the situation remains tense as Iranian missile attacks continue to hit various parts of the country, leaving damage across several cities and fueling ongoing fears of further escalation.