If all of this happened, the price of oil would skyrocket owing to shortages and fears, possibly driving much of the world economy, already in a precarious position, into recession. An armed attack could also cause the Iranian public to rally around the government, reducing the chances that a more responsible leadership might emerge.
此外，伊朗很可能立即对目标进行报复，这些目标包括沙特阿拉伯、伊拉克、阿富汗以及世界上其他存在美国利益的地方，还有美国本土。真主党可能会攻击以色列。如果这一切真发生了，由于石油短缺和恐惧，石油价格将扶摇直上，可能导致许多已经摇摇欲坠的世界经济体陷入衰退。军事袭击也可能导致伊朗人民团结在政府的周围，降低出现更富责任领导层的可能性。