Iran war shows norms of international conflicts have been upended

The United States has threatened Iranian energy infrastructure while Iran has retaliated against its Gulf neighbors, marking a departure from traditional rules governing international conflict. Historically, major powers have largely avoided direct strikes on critical civilian energy systems during regional disputes, instead constraining strikes to military targets or symbolic demonstrations of force. These escalating attacks on energy infrastructure signal that both sides are willing to inflict broader economic and humanitarian damage on populations, rather than limiting conflict to military objectives. The shift suggests that established norms limiting collateral damage and protecting critical civilian infrastructure are eroding in Middle Eastern conflicts. This escalation raises the risk of further tit-for-tat strikes that could destabilize the global economy and embolden other regional actors to disregard similar restraints.