Jordanian columnist Fahd Al-Khitan has warned that the latest military escalation between the United States and Iran poses a greater threat to Jordan than the recent 40 day war, arguing that Amman has detected a significant shift in Tehran's strategy toward directly targeting critical infrastructure inside the Kingdom.

In an opinion article published by Al Jazeera, Al-Khitan said Jordan believes Iran has moved beyond limited attacks to deliberately targeting strategic sites, citing attempted strikes on Aqaba Port and the city's airport, as well as a recent attack on a U.S. military installation in Jordan that reportedly killed three American soldiers and caused extensive material damage.

According to Al-Khitan, official Jordanian sources described the strike as one of the most serious security developments since the conflict erupted, highlighting both the long range of the missiles and the precision of the attack.

He noted that Jordan had sought throughout the conflict to avoid becoming a battlefield, but recent developments have heightened concerns that the Kingdom could face sustained attacks if hostilities between Washington and Tehran continue.

The article said Jordanian assessments increasingly attribute the escalation to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which is believed to be seeking to demonstrate that its military capabilities remain intact despite setbacks suffered during the war, while expanding operations against U.S. forces and regional partners.

Al-Khitan argued that targeting Jordan carries lower economic risks for Tehran than striking Gulf energy infrastructure, potentially making the Kingdom a more attractive target in future confrontations.

He added that Jordan, in coordination with Gulf states, is actively supporting diplomatic initiatives, particularly Qatari mediation efforts aimed at securing a temporary ceasefire and reviving negotiations between Washington and Tehran, despite skepticism over the durability of any agreement given the positions of both sides.

The columnist also said Amman is closely monitoring Israel's role, expressing concern over what it sees as efforts by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to reignite a broader regional conflict with Iran. He noted that Jordan continues to engage with U.S. officials in support of renewed diplomacy and to discourage a new round of military escalation.

Al-Khitan concluded that Jordan remains committed to safeguarding its national security and maintaining its defense partnership with the United States while pursuing diplomatic efforts to prevent a wider regional conflict, describing the coming days as decisive for the future stability of the Middle East.