**Iran Expert Says US-Iran War Has Become a 'War of Necessity'** The ongoing conflict between the US and Iran, which escalated after a US drone strike killed top Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani in January, has entered a new phase. The war, which began as a "war of choice" by the US, has morphed into a "war of necessity" for both sides. Karim Sadjadpour, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, says US President Donald Trump underestimated Iran's response to the conflict. Despite Iran's warnings that it would regionalize the conflict, Trump claimed he was caught off guard when Iran began attacking Persian Gulf countries and closing the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway through which much of the world's crude oil and natural gas passes. Sadjadpour notes that the war began without an imminent threat from Iran, but the situation has since changed. Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz has significant implications for global oil markets, while the killing of top Iranian officials, including the head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani, has created uncertainty about the power dynamics within the Iranian government. The loss of Larijani, who was expected to be a close adviser to Iran's newly appointed supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is seen as a significant blow to the regime's survival. Sadjadpour reflects that for a revolutionary regime whose ideology is based on martyrdom, the central question is whether these assassinations will ultimately extinguish the ideology or strengthen it. As the conflict continues, it remains unclear how or when it might end. President Trump has refused to declare victory, citing "no reason" to do so. The situation has become increasingly complex, with the war no longer a "war of choice" for either side but a "war of necessity" driven by regional and global interests. In the context of Nigeria, the US-Iran conflict highlights the complexities of international relations and the challenges of navigating global politics. While Nigeria has long been concerned about the spread of extremist ideologies in the region, the conflict in the Middle East serves as a reminder of the interconnectedness of global events and the need for careful diplomacy to avoid unintended consequences. As the situation continues to evolve, one thing is clear: the US-Iran conflict has entered a new and unpredictable phase, with significant implications for global security and stability.