DAVOS: Iran and Hezbollah want to deny Israel and US the ability to dictate a new order in the Middle East, Professor of International Relations at Johns Hopkins University Vali Nasr told the World Economic Forum on Wednesday.
Nasr said opening frontlines in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and the Red Sea reduces the control the US has over the region.
Karin von Hippel, director general of the Royal United Services Institute for Defense and Security Studies, said US power over Israel is overestimated.
“The US does not control what Israel does and Israel makes its own decisions,” said von Hippel.
Geir O. Pedersen, the UN’s special envoy for Syria, said most parties involved do not want to see an escalation in the region.
“Hezbollah, Iran and the US don’t want this conflict to escalate and spill over to other countries in the region or world,” said Pedersen.
Despite this, Pedersen expressed his concerns regarding the continued aggression in Gaza.
“I am worried about the escalation of the conflict in the region. We are seeing spillover in countries like Lebanon and Syria, including dozens of attacks on US bases by who the US claims (is) Iran despite Iran claiming they have nothing to do with them,” added Pedersen.
Nasr said the war would not end if the humanitarian crisis in Gaza was not addressed, and Pedersen echoed this, saying: “We need a quick end for the war on Gaza and immediate humanitarian assistance.”
Pedersen added that the only way for peace is a two-state solution.
“The events of Oct. 7 show that coexistence between Palestinians and Israelis in a one-state reality is impossible,” he said.
