The regional and global consequences of the 2026 Iran War

In February 2026, the United States and Israel launched a series of attacks on Iran, anticipating a short campaign - partly influenced by expectations of internal turmoil in Iran and the earlier military intervention in Venezuela. Instead, the attacks developed into a prolonged conflict with consequences extending well beyond the battlefield. Iran’s responses toward regional states hosting U.S. bases have contributed to new security alignments, sharper proxy competition, and a changing regional balance of power. The conflict has also generated environmental concerns and encouraged neighbouring states to reconsider their defence postures and diplomatic strategies. A prolonged disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20% of global hydrocarbon flows normally pass, has unsettled energy markets and increased recession risks. Damage to shipping and energy infrastructure has further raised concerns about oil spills, ecological vulnerability, international order, and U.S. influence amid intensifying great-power rivalry.This Research Topic aims to examine the multifaceted deliberate and unintended consequences of the 2026 Iran War for the international system. It will bring together analyses of how the conflict may reshape Middle Eastern regional security architectures and affect adjacent regions, as well as its implications for economic development in the Gulf states and patterns of energy production, transit, and pricing. It will assess emerging environmental risks arising from infrastructure damage, resource strain, and potential long-term ecological degradation. At the systemic level, contributions will examine the implications of the war for the international order, including international law, the protection of sovereignty norms, and great-power competition during and after the conflict. By tracing the gap between initial expectations of a swift, contained operation and the reality of an extended, multi-domain struggle, this Research Topic seeks to clarify the immediate costs and deeper structural shifts affecting regional stability, the global economy, energy and environmental security, international order, and the future of U.S. influence.This Research Topic focuses on the 2026 Iran War and its regional and international consequences, while recognising the complexity and evolving character of the conflict. We welcome papers addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:• Domestic political, social, and economic effects of the war on regional states• How regional states have responded to, and become involved in, different aspects of the conflict• Regional and international security implications across military, economic, energy, and environmental sectors• Emerging alignments, alliances, and security arrangements• New approaches to warfare and the conduct of limited or protracted war• Cyber operations, information warfare, disinformation, and the use of emerging technologies• Great-power calculations and responses• The role of the United Nations, regional organisations, and other international institutions• Post-conflict diplomacy, reconstruction, reconciliation, and prospects for regional de-escalation Topic editors: Marzieh Kouhi Esfahani, Arash Reisinezhad Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/86580/the-regional-and-global-consequences-of-the-2026-iran-war