Hamas’s leader is dead, Iran vows revenge: can anything stop all-out war in the Middle East?

Masoud Pezeshkian was the surprise winner of last month’s presidential election.

He promised to repair tattered ties with the US and Europe .

The Haniyeh assassination, attributed to Israel and not denied in Jerusalem , has scrambled all those hopes.

The Middle East has frequently tottered on the brink of catastrophe in the past.

Joe Biden entered the White House in 2021 hoping to resurrect a deal with Iran on its nuclear programme but otherwise determined to freeze the Palestinian question and bypass Middle East troublespots.

Khamenei and Raisi blocked meaningful nuclear dialogue.

Then Hamas atrocities forced Biden to engage personally on Israel -Palestine.

In effect, he gave Netanyahu a free hand in Gaza a terrible mistake, still uncorrected.

Qatari prime minister wrote on X: “How can mediation succeed when one party assassinates the negotiator on the other side?” Warning that “peace needs serious partners” Egypt bluntly accused the Israeli government of sabotaging peace.

Turkey ’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdoan , stunned Israel last week with an explicit threat to invade the country in support of Palestinians .