Center for Peace and Security in the Middle East

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcoming ceremony for visiting President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ebrahim Raisi prior to their talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, on February 14, 2023. (Getty Images)

An F-35C Lightning II prepares to launch from the flight deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln in support of Operation Epic Fury on March 2, 2026. (US Navy)

(Screenshot via YouTube)

A sailor signals the launch of an F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft on the flight deck of the USS Gerald R. Ford on January 30, 2026. (US Navy)

President Donald Trump meets with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the Saudi Royal Court on May 13, 2025, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Getty Images)

A photo shows US and Israeli flags projected on the historic walls of the Old City near Hebron Gate in Jerusalem on June 22, 2025. (Getty Images)

(Screenshot via YouTube)

Men riding a motorbike wave a Syrian flag as Syrian government forces enter the Kurdish-majority city of Qamishli on February 3, 2026. (Getty Images)

A newspaper in Tehran features statements by President Donald Trump concerning military options against Iran on January 28, 2026. (Getty Images)

(Screenshot via YouTube)