escalate into

And unless results are forthcoming, the long-running drama over Iran's nuclear ambitions could rapidly escalate into a global crisis.

His theme was his latest apocalyptic vision: that conflict between the United States and Iran could escalate into nuclear war.

This year saw anxiety over rising government debt in Europe escalate into a crisis of global proportions.

The trade spats of 2009 will not, with luck, escalate into a full-blown trade war, but protectionist sentiment will rise.

A conventional skirmish would escalate into a nuclear exchange.

Equally, plenty of disputes might more easily escalate into war if the countries concerned had the naval strength to wage it.

Even a limited confrontation can escalate into a major war.

One thing we like to talk about is prevention--how to avoid having small conflicts and annoyances escalate into much more serious problems.

Disputes concerning blockades and neutral trade could escalate into ugly confrontations with neutral states.

They don't want the fighting to escalate into a full-scale war.

We should rationally treat the economic and trade frictions between us two countries, which are bound to escalate into political frictions.

Move away from large population areas where food riots will escalate into chaos and mayhem.

It is difficult to know if small attacks could escalate into bigger ones.

The current conflict between the two countries seems will escalate into war