U.S. economist Jeffrey Sachs said that Iran could launch large-scale missile and drone attacks to bomb the Gulf region [1].

Such an escalation would threaten the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints. A successful strike on Gulf infrastructure could trigger a catastrophic crisis by disrupting global energy supplies, and destabilizing international markets [1, 2].

Sachs said that Iran possesses the capability to overwhelm existing regional defenses through the use of coordinated waves of drones and missiles [1]. He said that this strategy could potentially cripple critical infrastructure within a matter of hours [1, 2].

The warning comes amid escalating tensions between Iran and the U.S. Sachs said that the current trajectory of conflict could spiral into a wider crisis if diplomatic resolutions are not prioritized [1, 2].

Regional defenses are designed to intercept incoming threats, but the volume of a saturated attack—using multiple platforms simultaneously—could bypass these systems [1]. The vulnerability of the Gulf's energy infrastructure remains a primary concern for global economic stability [2].

Sachs said his warning was directed toward the U.S. administration, highlighting the risks associated with a prolonged conflict in the region [1, 2].

“Iran could launch large-scale missile and drone attacks that would overwhelm Gulf defenses.”

This warning underscores the strategic vulnerability of the Strait of Hormuz, where a significant portion of the world's oil passes. If Iran employs a 'saturation attack' strategy—overwhelming interceptors with sheer volume—it could effectively shut down energy exports, leading to a global price shock and forcing a rapid shift in U.S. foreign policy toward containment or diplomacy.