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EXCLUSIVE: The conflict in the Middle East risks turning into another Iraq war, a defence expert says.
12:20, Sat, Feb 28, 2026 Updated: 12:22, Sat, Feb 28, 2026
The conflict in the Middle East is a moment of extreme peril for the world, an expert says (Image: Getty)
The United States' attack on Iran is a "moment of extreme peril" for the world, including the UK, a leading security expert says. Professor Anthony Glees from the University of Buckingham suggested the Islamic Republic knows retaliatory strikes on US bases in the Middle East will lead to "all-out war" and the destruction of the regime.
He told the Daily Express: "It's also highly likely now Iranian revolutionary guards will close the Strait of Hormuz, which will have a huge impact on world trade and the price of oil." Experts have already warned soaring oil prices could mean fuel prices in the UK hitting £2 per litre and send markets plummeting. Professor Glees suggested the US won't be affected by rising fuel prices as it is more or less self-sufficient in oil. Suggesting the US had disregarded other countries' concerns, he said: "That's the new world order."
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Donald Trump vows to destroy Iran's missiles, missile industry and navy (Image: Getty)
The expert said: "My great fear would be that this could quickly degenerate into another Iraq war. This is a moment of extreme peril for everyone in any way involved and that includes us here in the UK."
The United States and Israel launched a blistering attack on Iran on Saturday, with the first apparent strike happening near the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iranian media reported strikes nationwide. Smoke could be seen rising from the capital, Tehran.
There were reports of explosions in or near the major cities of Isfahan, Shiraz and Tabriz.
Iran's Revolutionary Guard said in the first phase of its retaliation, named "Truthful Promise 4", Iran’s military struck the command of the US 5th Fleet in Bahrain, US bases in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates as well as military targets in Israel.
Smoke was also spotted over a US base near an airport in Irbil, the regional capital of Iraq’s semi-autonomous northern Kurdish region.
US President Donald Trump claimed Iran has continued to develop its nuclear program and planned to develop missiles capable of reaching the US.
Iran targets the US Navy's 5th Fleet HQ in Bahrain (Image: Getty)
Professor Glees said the events are shaping into what now looks like a very serious situation.
He added: "One seriously wonders if Trump was expecting this - he's the guy who has always criticised (former US president) George W. Bush's 2003 war on Iraq."
The expert said Mr Trump and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will have agreed to the attack when the Israeli leader visited the US two weeks ago.
He said the attack would have been agreed if talks in Geneva didn't produce an agreement on Iran not producing nuclear weapons.
Mr Trump had been threatening action for weeks prior to today's attacks amid a brutal crackdown on nationwide protests by Iran's hardline regime.
Professor Glees suggested it was possible the bombings earlier today were designed by the US and Israel to "encourage" Iran's ruling ayatollahs to agree to the US-Israel nuclear weapons ultimatum. But Iran's retaliatory strikes appear to have blown apart any such agreement.
In a video announcing the attack, Mr Trump urged the Iranian people: "When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take.
"This will be probably your only chance for generations... For many years, you have asked for America’s help, but you never got it."
Mr Netanyahu echoed the same message, saying: "Our joint operation will create the conditions for the brave Iranian people to take their fate into their own hands."
The US and Israel struck cities across Iran (Image: Getty)
Professor Glees said the ayatollahs and their millions of Islamist supporters won't like that message one bit.
He added: "But Trump has said this before. And we know the regime in Iran is perfectly prepared to kill thousands of its own people to keep the ayatollahs in charge."
It is the second time in eight months that the Trump administration has used military force against the Islamic Republic.
Meanwhile, in the UK, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer convened the Government's emergency Cobra committee in response to the attacks. It is understood that the UK was not involved in the US-Israeli strikes.
A Government spokesperson said the UK did not want to see "further escalation into a wider regional conflict" and reiterated Britain's support for a negotiated solution to Iran's nuclear ambitions.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry condemned the strikes on Iran as "a pre-planned and unprovoked act of armed aggression against a sovereign and independent UN member state".
The Russians, who are waging an illegal war against Ukraine, demanded an immediate halt to the military campaign and a return to diplomacy.
Russia and China are key allies of Iran. Putin has set out to cast himself as a mediator in the region as he seeks to avoid becoming embroiled in another conflict.
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Professor Glees said: "Iran is a key ally of Putin. He'll be biting his nails right now. If the ayatollahs go, he'll lose a vital military partner."
He added that neither Putin nor Chinese President Xi Jinping would like the US-Israel attack, and he expected Xi in particular to demand an end to hostilities.
English (US) · 