Antonio Guterres did not mince his words. "Now is the time for maximum restraintModeration or self-control. ," said the UNUnited Nations. An intergovernmental organisation based in New York that aims to maintain international peace and security.'s secretary-general.¹

He was hoping to stop IsraelA country in the Middle East, and the only Jewish nation in the modern period. It is seen by Jews, Christians and Muslims as the Holy Land. hitting back against IranA country in Western Asia, officially called the Islamic Republic of Iran. It has a population of 84 million. . But the situation is a dangerous jigsaw of competing interests. These are the main ones.

Hamas. The PalestinianPalestine is an area of the eastern Mediterranean region, including the West Bank, Gaza Strip and parts of modern Israel. It has been fought over by Arab and Jewish national movements for many years. group which runs GazaThe smaller of two Palestinian territories, home to two million people. It is located on the Mediterranean coast, bordered by Israel and Egypt. . It launched a horrific attack on Israel on OctoberOn 7 October 2023, the Palestinian group Hamas, which controls Gaza, carried out a series of surprise attacks on Israel, killing more than 1,000 people and taking more than 200 hostages. . It hoped to provoke a brutal response which would bring wider support for the Palestinian cause - and has succeeded.

Israel. Since the 7 October attacks, Israel has believed that it is fighting for its very existence. It feels surrounded by enemies, of which Iran is the greatest.

Iran. As a state devoted to Islam, Iran sees Israel as an infidelA derogatory term for somebody who has either no religion, or a different religion to the speaker. nation. It dreams of destroying Israel and dominating the Middle EastThe lands around the east of the Mediterranean Sea and Arabia. .

The US. Israel's strongest allyA country that has agreed to support another one. , and the only country that can really influence Israel. But President Netanyahu does not always listen to it.

Hezbollah. A pro-Iranian group based in LebanonA small country on the eastern Mediterranean coast that has been in the grip of an economic crisis for over a year. It has a native population of just 4.7 million, but migrants and refugees have brought its total population up to almost 7 million.. It has made rocket attacks on Israel and is a serious threat on its northern border.

The Houthis. Iranian-backed rebels in YemenThe poorest country in the Gulf region is in the midst of a humanitarian crisis. who have been attacking ships in the Red SeaA seawater inlet of the Indian Ocean. To its right is Saudi Arabia, to its left the coast of north Africa.. They claim this is to support Palestinians.

Saudi Arabia. Iran's main regional rival. With strong ties to the US it is likely to push for peace.

Britain. It supports Israel, but has seen huge pro-Palestinian protests. These are bound to influence the government with elections looming.

What is particularly worrying is that many of the main players have an interest in keeping the conflict going. They see it as a way of stopping people in their own countries from criticising them.

Netanyahu faces huge criticism for not preventing the 7 October attacks. Iran's supreme leader Ali Khameini heads a hugely unpopular regimeA system or way of doing things, especially an authoritarian one. which has faced mass protests.

Yes: Israel is bound to retaliate; Iran will then respond, attacking both directly and through Hezbollah. The US and Britain will weigh in on Israel's side and the situation will spiral out of control.

No: Iran does not want a war, as it showed by giving a full warning of its attack on Israel. Nor does the US, which will put maximum pressure on Israel, or any other leading Middle Eastern country.

Or... Israel will retaliate, but not in a way which can be directly linked to it - for example, through untraceable cyber attacks - so Iran will have no obvious excuse for a military response.

Restraint - Moderation or self-control.

UN - United Nations. An intergovernmental organisation based in New York that aims to maintain international peace and security.

Israel - A country in the Middle East, and the only Jewish nation in the modern period. It is seen by Jews, Christians and Muslims as the Holy Land.

Iran - A country in Western Asia, officially called the Islamic Republic of Iran. It has a population of 84 million.

Palestinian - Palestine is an area of the eastern Mediterranean region, including the West Bank, Gaza Strip and parts of modern Israel. It has been fought over by Arab and Jewish national movements for many years.

Gaza - The smaller of two Palestinian territories, home to two million people. It is located on the Mediterranean coast, bordered by Israel and Egypt.

7 October - On 7 October 2023, the Palestinian group Hamas, which controls Gaza, carried out a series of surprise attacks on Israel, killing more than 1,000 people and taking more than 200 hostages.

Infidel - A derogatory term for somebody who has either no religion, or a different religion to the speaker.

Middle East - The lands around the east of the Mediterranean Sea and Arabia.

Ally - A country that has agreed to support another one.

Lebanon - A small country on the eastern Mediterranean coast that has been in the grip of an economic crisis for over a year. It has a native population of just 4.7 million, but migrants and refugees have brought its total population up to almost 7 million.

Yemen - The poorest country in the Gulf region is in the midst of a humanitarian crisis.

Red Sea - A seawater inlet of the Indian Ocean. To its right is Saudi Arabia, to its left the coast of north Africa.

Regime - A system or way of doing things, especially an authoritarian one.