Eight months post-June 2025 Twelve-Day War, the Middle East lingers in armed stability: exhaustion and uncertainty, neither peace nor war. Israel's surprise strikes destroyed 35-45% of Iran's ballistic missile stockpile and eliminated key military leaders. The United States bombed three Iranian nuclear sites. Iran retaliated with over 550 ballistic missiles and 1,000 suicide drones targeting … Continue reading The Structural Trap: How Iran’s Degraded Deterrence Heightens Escalation Risk Without a Clear Path to War