Recently, the Middle East situation has undergone a dramatic shift. As U.S. military actions in the Middle East escalate frequently, an international game is quietly unfolding.

Here's what happened: The U.S. has been increasing military threats against Iran for over 20 days, giving the international community a chance to respond. On the 15th, the United Nations Security Council held an emergency open meeting to discuss the Iran situation. An interesting scene unfolded—representatives from China, Russia, Iran, Pakistan, Liberia, Colombia, and others jointly voiced their opposition to the use of force threats, directly condemning such actions. The Chinese representative explicitly stated opposition to the use or threat of use of force in international relations and against any behavior that overrides international law.

Beyond this Security Council meeting, the attitudes of regional countries are also noteworthy. Gulf nations such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Oman have exerted diplomatic pressure on the U.S.. Saudi Arabia and Iraq even refused U.S. military aircraft to use their airspace. Even Israel joined the chorus of restraint—Prime Minister Netanyahu clearly stated that Israel is not yet prepared to respond to Iran's missile retaliation. The experience of Iran's large-scale missile attacks during last year's Israel-Iran conflict has made Israel cautious about another conflict.

There is also significant opposition within the U.S.. Military advisors admit that the U.S. military does not have the capability to simultaneously disable Iran's mobile missile launchers across the country. This was a key factor in Trump's decision to temporarily halt military actions against Iran. On the 15th, Trump announced a pause in military strikes, citing Iran's "stopping the killing of protesters" as the reason.

But is this truly a abandonment or just a delaying tactic? From businessman Trump’s perspective, he doesn’t do unprofitable deals. Venezuela can fight because that country lacks the capacity for retaliation. Iran is different—its missiles and drones could cause significant damage to U.S. military, diplomatic, and commercial assets in the Middle East, making the cost too high.

However, the U.S. has not truly relaxed. The Middle East continues to see troop buildup, and future measures may include non-military means—sanctions, economic strangulation, internal political interference, and continued pressure. But Iran has adapted to decades of Western sanctions, and the effectiveness of non-military tactics may be limited. This game is far from over, and the uncertainty of geopolitics will continue to influence global markets.