The US and Iran are hurtling toward a conflict neither ostensibly wants but both seem unable to avoid. The long-standing rivals ought to pause and think carefully about where their true interests lie.

After weeks of buildup, two US carrier groups and squadrons of advanced fighters and bombers are now poised to launch massive air and missile strikes against the Islamic Republic. In theory, the two sides are negotiating a deal to address US demands, which presumably were conveyed during recent talks in Geneva. But a military deployment this large carries a momentum all its own. The president has already warned he may order a more narrowly targeted strike while negotiations are ongoing to demonstrate his seriousness. If Iran plays for time or refuses to meet US red lines, as seems likely, he will face immense pressure to launch a more wide-ranging attack to maintain US credibility.

© Bloomberg