Will the US Intervene in an Iran-Israel Conflict? Political Analyst Weighs the Odds*

*Editor’s note: On March 4, 2022, Russia enacted a law that criminalizes public opposition to, or independent news reporting about, the war in Ukraine. The law makes it a crime to call the war a “war” rather than a “special military operation” on social media or in a news article or broadcast. The law is understood to penalize any language that “discredits” Russia’s use of its military in Ukraine, calls for sanctions or protests Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It punishes anyone found to spread “false information” about the invasion with up to 15 years in prison.

Political analyst Konstantin Blokhin believes the U.S. may intervene if Israel faces a serious threat.

Political analyst Konstantin Blokhin told 360.ru that the U.S. could be drawn into a conflict with Iran if Israel’s security is directly threatened. Blokhin noted that U.S. involvement is also likely if Iran targets American military bases in the Middle East.

“If Israel’s existence is at stake, the U.S. will almost certainly intervene,” he said. “But as it stands, the situation is unfolding on relatively equal terms — there’s no clear indication that Iran is gaining the upper hand.”

Blokhin suggested that U.S. President Donald Trump would likely give the order to strike Iran. He pointed to the alignment between Trump's views and those of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a key factor.

Trump has previously said that the U.S. could launch attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities, though he also indicated that a return to diplomacy remains a possibility.

**Editor's Note: The U.S. attacked Iran's three nuclear facilities Saturday, June 21.