US-Iran Conflict: IR Scholars’ Concerns | Foreign Policy
- strikes against Iran, international relations experts are raising concerns about U.S. national security.The attacks, which occurred without congressional approval, have drawn varied reactions globally.
- A recent survey of 753 international relations scholars at U.S.
- According too the survey, nearly two-thirds of experts believe that Israeli attacks on Iranian targets, which began June 13, have made the U.S.
International relations experts are sounding the alarm. Recent U.S. strikes against Iran are projected to significantly harm U.S. national security, according to a new survey of over 750 scholars. The survey, conducted between June 18th and 22nd, reveals that most experts foresee Iranian retaliation, including potential attacks against U.S. military forces and cyberattacks. While Republicans largely backed President Trump’s actions, Democrats expressed disapproval, and global reactions vary widely. Even more concerning, a majority believe that Israeli actions have further destabilized the region. News Directory 3 keeps you informed. Discover the potential impacts of this escalating conflict and explore the possible responses from Russia and China. What do the experts predict regarding the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict? Discover what’s next.
Iran Conflict: Experts Warn of U.S. Security Risks
Updated June 24, 2025
Following U.S. strikes against Iran, international relations experts are raising concerns about U.S. national security.The attacks, which occurred without congressional approval, have drawn varied reactions globally. While Republicans largely supported President Trump’s actions, Democrats expressed disapproval. Israel hailed the strikes, while Russia and China condemned them.Iran, in turn, vowed retaliation and launched missiles at the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, a major U.S. military installation, on Monday. Qatari air defenses reportedly intercepted the missiles, and no casualties were reported.
A recent survey of 753 international relations scholars at U.S. colleges and universities, conducted by the Teaching, Research, and International Policy (TRIP) Project at the College of William & Mary and the University of georgia, reveals expert opinions on the Israel-iran conflict and the implications of U.S. involvement. The survey, conducted between June 18 and June 22, indicates that most experts believe U.S. military action against Iran will harm U.S. security, provoke Iranian retaliation, and diminish domestic support for Trump in the long term.
According too the survey, nearly two-thirds of experts believe that Israeli attacks on Iranian targets, which began June 13, have made the U.S. less secure. An overwhelming majority, 83%, said that U.S.strikes on Iran would also decrease U.S. security. The experts also predicted the likelihood of various Iranian responses, estimating a 63% chance of attacks against U.S. military forces in the Middle East and a 68% chance of cyberattacks against the United States. Iran’s parliament has already endorsed closing the Strait of Hormuz, a move that could be met with military force by the U.S.
The survey also gauged expert opinions on how Russia and China might react to U.S. military action. A majority, 63%, felt Russia would likely increase military aid to Iran, while 52% anticipated Russian cyberattacks against the U.S.Experts were less convinced that China would retaliate,with 53.5% predicting humanitarian assistance to Iran.
Despite the potential ramifications, the survey found that only 12% of experts supported U.S. military action if Iran failed to dismantle its nuclear weapons program, as demanded by Trump. Instead, experts favored actions such as cyberattacks (36%) and sanctions (54%). There was little support for ground forces in Iran or regime change.
What’s next
While experts anticipate negative consequences for U.S. security from the strikes, they are divided on the potential domestic political benefits for Trump. Though, most believe any “rally-around-the-flag” effect would be short-lived, with 68% predicting a lower approval rating for Trump one year after an attack. The survey also revealed that 59% of experts believe Iran should not be allowed to possess nuclear weapons, though 54% believe Iran was actively pursuing them before the recent israeli air campaign. Most experts,64%,believe that Iranian nuclear weapons would make Iran more secure but would decrease security for Israel,the U.S., the Middle East, and the world.