The current crisis cannot be reduced to a mere US-Iranian dispute that has recently escalated into a direct confrontation. It is inaccurate to frame the entire situation as a deep-rooted misunderstanding between Tehran and Washington. While the US-Iranian dimension of the crisis is significant, dangerous and critical, it is not the only dimension. Iran is a major power in the Middle East. It is a state with a deeply rooted history and a strategic position that qualifies it to play prominent roles, particularly given its substantial economic capabilities.