The Globe's Powers Take a Delicate Approach to the U.S.-Iran Fight

The killing of senior Iranian military leader Qassem Soleimani and its ramifications aren't just a matter for the United States and Iran -- they affect some of the globe's biggest actors as well. While unlikely to become direct belligerents, the European Union, Russia and China are each looking on with concern at the U.S.-Iranian standoff, with the European Union trying to act as a mediator, Russia offering cautious backing to Iran, and China preaching peace and dialogue in an effort to safeguard its economic interests in the Middle East. But powerful though these actors are, all will take a back seat to the United States and Iran in directing the course of the conflict....