US‑Israel strikes on Iran spark nuclear arms race in the Middle East

The United States and Israel have escalated military operations against Iran, announcing intensified air strikes aimed at Iranian facilities. Analysts say the campaign is reshaping the strategic balance of the region. Saudi Arabia has warned that if Tehran acquires a nuclear capability, Riyadh will pursue its own nuclear programme without delay. Turkey, under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, is expanding a civilian nuclear infrastructure built with Russian assistance, while Egypt is closely monitoring the shifting power dynamics. The combined effect of the war and the heightened U.S. targeting is viewed as accelerating nuclear proliferation across the Middle East, creating a highly unstable deterrence environment where miscalculations could have catastrophic consequences.

The broader implication is a potential new regional order in which multiple states—Iran, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and possibly Egypt—could become nuclear‑armed, raising the risk of rapid escalation and undermining existing non‑proliferation efforts.