Middle East on brink of World War III, warns Iranian lawmaker among escalating tensions - report

Iranian lawmaker Kamran Ghazanfari warns the region is on the brink of World War III, citing the Russia-Ukraine war, US-China tensions over Taiwan, and NATO expansion. He also raises the possibility of Iran withdrawing from the NPT. The article contextualizes his comments as reflecting IRGC and hardliner views, noting his past claims about Raisi's assassination.

Iranian lawmaker Kamran Ghazanfari warned that the Middle East is on the brink of World War III, according to a report by Iran International. Ghazanfari, a Tehran representative in parliament, cited the expansion of the Russia-Ukraine war, NATO support for Ukraine, and US-China tensions over Taiwan as grounds for a widespread conflict. He also raised the possibility of Iran withdrawing from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), saying the issue could return to parliament's agenda. The article notes Ghazanfari's history of outlandish claims, including that Iran's president Ebrahim Raisi was assassinated by Israel in 2024. It frames his comments as illustrating how extremist politicians and IRGC elites view the war as a regional and global conflict. The piece also discusses Iran's positioning alongside Russia and China to challenge the US-led world order, and its recent attacks on Jordan and threats to tankers as signals it will not back down.