Newscenter Media News 
The ongoing conflict between Iran and a coalition of United States and Israeli forces could have consequences far beyond the Middle East, a Sokoto lecturer has warned, amid recent developments in the region.
Recall that on Saturday, the United States and Israel launched a major coordinated military offensive against Iran by striking military and strategic targets across the country, even as Washington and Tehran were engaged in talks over Iran’s nuclear programme.
The strikes hit multiple Iranian cities and key facilities, including command centres and government buildings.
Almost immediately, Iran responded with missile and drone attacks across the Middle East, launching strikes on Israel and on countries hosting U.S. forces and assets including Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Iraq, where explosions, alerts, and intercepted missiles were reported as part of Tehran’s retaliation.
In an exclusive interview with DAILY POST on Sunday, Shehu Arzika, a lecturer in Sokoto, said the current crisis has deep historical and geopolitical roots that go beyond religion and could affect global peace, oil markets and international relations.
He explained that since 1945, Israel wanted to occupy an area in the Middle East that they felt is their own, divinely given to them.
According to Arzika, this belief has shaped how Israel deals with other nations in the region.
“They try to use both soft and hard power,” he said.
On soft power, Arzika noted that Israel sometimes aligns with Muslim and Arab countries to gain diplomatic support for peace in the region.
“But sometimes they use military power,” he said.
He added that U.S. support strengthens Israel’s military actions.
Regarding religion, Arzika said it does not matter most to Israel and the United States in this, because several Muslim-majority neighbours still cooperate with Israel despite religious differences.
“So you see, it’s not about religion. It’s just a combination of history and global power politics,” he said.
Arzika said the real aim, as he sees it, is to neutralise any leader seen as powerful enough to challenge Israel’s position:
“They just want to make sure that they eliminate any leader that they feel is powerful and can cause some kind of hitches to their effort,” he said.
On what this might mean for the wider world.
“This renewed action against Iran may be far-reaching. It has the possibility of causing even World War III,” he said.
He pointed to retaliatory attacks attributed to Iran in several countries, saying these responses signal how unpredictable the situation could become.
“Iran retaliated … it killed some American soldiers. It also killed so many people in UAE, in Qatar, in Saudi Arabia and I think in Jordan,” he said.
Arzika stressed that the United States remains a dominant global power with allies that are likely to stand with it.
“No matter what America did so far, even if it is against international law, the global power countries are in support of America,” he said.
He suggested this support could lead to further intervention against Iran.
He also spoke about the economic consequences of the conflict, especially for oil markets.
Iran and its neighbours are major oil exporters, and Arzika said threats to block the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil shipping route could push up global oil prices.
“A larger percentage of global oil is passing through that Strait of Hormuz … that may cause an increase in the price of the global oil market,” he said.
Arzika said Iran is currently suffering major consequences, especially with the reported death of its Supreme Leader.
“Iran has lost its supreme leader. He was assassinated by the U.S. and Israeli army,” he said.
He added that losing a commander puts Iran at a disadvantage.
Looking ahead, he said the crisis could lead to unpredictable global fallout, especially if continued violence and retaliation draw in more countries.
“Only God knows what will happen in the near future,” he said.
On Monday morning, oil prices jumped sharply, putting pressure on stock markets.
Brent crude rose by as much as 13% to $82 per barrel, the highest in 14 months.
The increase came after fears grew over the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil shipments, which is effectively at risk of being blocked.
Iran crisis have far-reaching global consequences, may lead to World War – Arzika