The risk of an all-out war in the Middle East is surging but remains contained, as neither Washington nor Tehran seeks a protracted conflict. However, a "retaliation loop" risks a fatal miscalculation. In an interview with China Daily, Cheng Xizhong, senior fellow at the Charhar Institute, noted that the US is using stalled nuclear talks as a pretext to strike Iranian facilities, driven by a triple agenda. He warned that without swift international mediation, the region faces protracted turmoil.

Reporter: Li Wei