DAR ES SALAAM, Sept. 8 -- WHEN the United States and Israel began bombing Iran on February 28, President Donald Trump described the campaign as a simple “excursion” expected to last a few weeks.

What began as a limited operation has since developed into a prolonged conflict with no clear resolution.

Beyond its impact on global oil supplies and economic conditions, the war has raised broader questions about the changing balance of political, military and economic influence.

The key issue is not simply when the conflict will end, but what it reveals about the changing nature of global power and whether it could accelerate the transition towards a more multipolar international system.

Evidence suggests the conflict has expose...