Two prominent national security experts — Robert Wilkie and Robert Pape — warned Newsmax that despite recent U.S. military operations against Iran, the conflict is shifting into a new, potentially more dangerous phase rather than winding down. Pape, a University of Chicago political scientist specializing in military strategy, specifically warned that analysts may be underestimating the risks as the focus shifts to long-term Persian Gulf power balance negotiations. This matters because if escalation remains possible despite current military advantages, it affects military planning, economic stability (oil markets), and diplomatic strategy going forward.