Shapiro served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East until January—charged with, among other things, considering scenarios in which tensions between Israel and Iran escalated into all-out war and preparing U.

The two powers have been exchanging barrages since Israel attacked Iran and killed many of the country’s top military leaders and scientists.

By bnm Gulf bureau Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has accused the United States of aiding Israel’s recent military campaign against Iran and warned that rising tensions in the Persian Gulf could spiral into a global conflict.