Current sectionMiddle East NewsWhile last week's assessment was that neither Iran nor the United States wanted escalation, diplomats are now concerned that strikes from both countries could trigger a wider war involving Israel. 'Tomorrow is the World Cup final; the day after tomorrow is the Middle East final,' a Western diplomat quipped on SaturdayShare to FacebookShare to XArticle printing is available to subscribers onlyPrint in a simple, ad-free formatSubscribeComments: Zen reading is available to subscribers onlyAd-free and in a comfortable reading formatSubscribeLiza Rozovsky12:02 AM • July 20 2026 IDTDiplomats believe the chances of violence in the Middle East spiraling into a wider escalation have increased in recent days, regional sources have told Haaretz.Loading...Click the alert icon to follow topics:Iran - U.S.Middle EastIsrael - IranStrait of Hormuz2026 Israel-Iran WarCommentsLoading...In the NewsIn the News: Live UpdatesMamdani-NetanyahuResettle GazaU.S.-IranStrait of HormuzIsrael Elections2026 World CupHaQuizHaaretz PodcastLost Holocaust Music, Nearly Erased by Stalin, Goes on Tour in Asia'Choose Hope': Natalie Portman Backs Arab-Jewish Party Ahead of Israeli ElectionHow to Interpret the Israeli-Palestinian Reality in ReelsFour Ways This Knesset Broke IsraelWhile the World Focuses on Cease-fire Talks, Settlers Are Reimagining GazaRemembering and rebuilding two years laterICYMIInside the Mossad Plot to Install Ahmadinejad as Iran's LeaderThe Most Optimistic Israeli in Jerusalem Is Leaving the CountryNetanyahu's Biggest Challenger: Who Is Gadi Eisenkot and What Does He Stand For?As Ground Invasion Looms, U.S. and Iran Want Wild-card Israel Out of the Fight103 House Democrats Vote to Cut U.S. Aid to Israel in Landmark Symbolic VoteDemocrats Rejected U.S. Aid to Israel, and AIPAC Couldn't Stop Them