Analysis: Dangerous moment for Middle East

Analysis: Dangerous moment for Middle East

With reports of an imminent attack on Israel by Iran, our international affairs editor Dominic Waghorn says this is a "very dangerous moment for the Middle East".

He says just as we thought the risk of a regional war were subsiding "it has now come back".

Waghorn says the "Iranians throughout this war have avoided escalating wherever they can" and "don't want a war" but "they feel they have to retaliate".

"The assumption is it will be a calibrated well-planned retaliation. It won't go too far but it will go far enough to try and restore their deterrence but it won't go too far as to plunge the region into all out conflict," he explains.

He notes whatever decision Iran takes "it's war and things don't necessarily go to plan".

"This is a very dangerous moment for the Middle East," he adds.