As 2020 begins, the world starts the new year with fear of a third World War, because of rising tensions between the United States and Iran.

On January 4th, the United States launched an airstrike in Baghdad, Iraq; one of Iran’s top military generals, major general Qasem Soleimani, was killed in the strike. Soleimani was sanctioned by both NATO and the European Union and was labeled as a terrorist by the United States.

Soon after, the Iran Government said they will no longer abide by the 2015 Nuclear Deal, and supporters of Iran stormed the U.S Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq which was already under attack numerous anti-American groups, supported by Soleimani. During the protest, multiple buildings were burned down and the people in the streets were chanting “Death to America!”

The nuclear deal with Iran stated that “Iran would redesign, convert and reduce its nuclear facilities,” according to the joint statement in Switzerland. In 2018, President Trump pulled out of the deal, in an address to the United States he said “This ways a horrible one-sided deal that should have never, ever been made.”

With tensions between the United States and Iran already very high, Iran vowed that they would get revenge on President Donald Trump and the U.S. A couple of days after, Iran launched missiles at two military bases in Iraq.

Future United States Army Infantry soldier Ronnie Savage adds, “I believe what Iran did was clearly an act of war; their attack didn’t kill any Americans, but what if our allies in Iraq never warned us of the incoming attack?”

With this act being considered by most as an act of war, it raises the question, what would a war between the United States of America and Iran look like?

The United States is superior to Iran in numerous ways, and the Iran government is aware that it would be extremely hard to win a war against the United States. Lucky for Iran, the United States doesn’t want to get in a war with Iran either. President Donald Trump announced in an address to the nation, “As we continue to evaluate options in response to Iranian aggression, the United States will immediately impose additional punishing economic sanctions on the Iranian regime.”

These economic sanctions can destroy a country’s economy and put them in a very tough position; they can include various forms of tariffs, trade barriers, and restrictions on financial transactions. Due to these sanctions, “Iran appears to be standing down,” President Trump reports in an address.

Kaylene Robbins, a social studies teacher at Milford High is assuming, “most likely, the United States will just continue with economic sanctions and keep a close eye on them, it’s politically inexpedient (not practical) for both sides to go to war.”