Who wants what from the Iran war?

March 16, 2026

The ongoing conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran has reached a complex stalemate where each party seeks different outcomes from ending the war. While President Trump's objectives have shifted between limiting Iran's nuclear program and achieving regime change, Iran's leadership has been weakened militarily but remains politically intact, with hardliner Mojtaba Khamenei recently assuming power as supreme leader. Israel prioritizes destroying Iran's missile capabilities and nuclear infrastructure, viewing them as existential threats, while Iran leverages its strategic geography and control over the Strait of Hormuz to maintain bargaining power.

Who is affected

President Donald Trump and the US government
Iran's Islamic Republic regime, Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), and Iranian citizens
The new Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel's government
Gulf Arab states (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman) and their populations
The UK and European countries
Commercial shipping vessels and the global oil market
Ukraine (mentioned as recipient of Iranian Shahed drones via Russia)
Proxy groups including Houthis in Yemen and Hezbollah in Lebanon
Oman (as mediator in Geneva talks)

What action is being taken

The US and Israel are conducting relentless precision bombing campaigns against Iran (16 days as of the article's writing)
Iran is launching daily drone and missile bombardments against Gulf Arab states
Saudi Arabia is intercepting Iranian projectiles (more than 60 intercepted on the Monday referenced)
Iran is threatening shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and partially blocking it
Countries are being asked by President Trump to help escort commercial vessels through the Strait

Why it matters

This conflict matters because it threatens global economic stability through disrupted oil supplies (approximately 20% of the world's oil normally passes through the Strait of Hormuz) and rising oil prices. The war risks drawing the United States into another prolonged and costly Middle Eastern conflict with no clear victory conditions, particularly as Iran's regime shows resilience despite military damage. Israel views Iran's ballistic missile capabilities and uranium enrichment program (at 60% purity) as existential threats requiring elimination. The conflict has fundamentally destroyed trust between Iran and Gulf Arab states, reshaping Middle Eastern geopolitical relationships. Additionally, the war's outcome will determine whether Iran continues supporting regional proxy militias and pursuing nuclear capabilities, affecting regional stability for years to come.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC