US enters war with Iran: What comes next?

In his latest Quick Take, Ian Bremmer breaks down the US decision to formally join Israel in military strikes against Iran, marking a major escalation in the Middle East.

“The United States has formally entered the war in Iran,” Ian says, following a week of rising tensions and failed negotiations.

American forces launched targeted strikes on Iran’s underground Fordow nuclear facility and two other sites, a move Ian calls a “TikTok-style war,” quick, explosive, aimed at avoiding a long-term ground conflict, and something “Trump’s base can certainly get behind.”

Trump, who has positioned himself as a peace-focused president, “is now 0-3 on his big efforts at negotiations,” Ian notes, referencing failed talks with Russia, Israel, and now Iran.

Now the world waits to see how Iran responds. So far, the regime has shown restraint, but with its leadership weakened, deterrents degraded, and the threat of further strikes looming, retaliation is likely. Whether through proxy attacks or asymmetric escalation, Ian says Iran is now “more likely to act unhinged and less rational than what we’ve seen so far.”