World would pay very high price if Middle East powder keg ignites

As it said it would, Iran has struck back. In response to the US killing of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani last week, Iran fired a series of ballistic missiles at Iraqi bases housing US troops on Wednesday. While the US president tweeted "all is well" after the strikes, Iran claimed that"80 American terrorists" had been killed, leaving people wondering if Washington will take further action.

It is to be hoped that whatever the outcome of Iran's missile strikes were, Washington will heed Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif's tweet after the strikes that "Iran is not seeking escalation or war", which should be interpreted as a clear signal that Iran will not take any further action if the US does not retaliate.

Further darkening the pall of gloom surrounding the already highly volatile situation, a Ukrainian plane carrying 176 people crashed on Wednesday shortly after takeoff from Teheran's main airport, killing all onboard.

At present, it is unrealistic to think that the years of hostility between Washington and Teheran will suddenly have ended with both having vented their antipathy toward the other with their latest exchange of missile strikes.

But the Iraq War should serve as a reminder to the US that even though its military power might be enough to seemingly prevail－encouraging it to repeat its impetuous "shock and awe" military adventurism－not everything can be resolved through force. While it has not been the one to bear the brunt of the consequences, the US policy in the Middle East, backed and emboldened by its overwhelming military superiority, has proved to be an unmitigated disaster for the region and beyond. It was the messy outcome of the Iraq War that prompted the US president to campaign on a platform of "bringing our boys home"－alive and not in body bags－during the last election.

Judging from the responses from both sides after Wednesday's strikes, it seems both Washington and Teheran know they need to keep a lid on their quarrel. As long-standing players in the Middle East, they are both aware of how complex the geopolitics is in the region and the price to be paid for igniting the powder keg there.

No matter who is to blame for pushing the two countries near the brink of war, and no matter how deep their enmity goes, they should not let it get out of hand.

The latest escalation of tension may help Iranian leaders ease some anti-government sentiment at home and unite Iranians further under the anti-American banner. For Trump, it may help divert attention from his upcoming impeachment trial.

Hence, both sides should settle for what has been done is done. Although, as long-term rivals, they both no doubt know the bottom line of each other better than others, history shows that it is all too easy to unwittingly unleash the monsters of war when countries start playing with fire.