Iran’s Hiding Behind Deadly Friends Should Have a Price
Growing tensions between Iran, its neighbors, Israel and the U.S. are causing heightened concern in Tehran, after deadly use of force by the regime and its allies. Consequently, Tehran reached out to its allies, resulting in an Iraqi militia announcing a suspension of attacks against the U.S. forces.
If, instead of reacting retroactively, the regime had proactively demanded its allies to reduce attacks a while ago, three American lives might have been spared.
To reduce the potential for future escalation, it is crucial to hold Iran accountable and convey the cost associated with arming, training, financing and promoting violence through proxies.
The killing of three American soldiers in northern Jordan by an Iraqi pro-Iranian militia and the following unusual U.S. attack is causing heightened concern in Tehran. Additionally, aggressive and simultaneous Iranian use of force in the territories of neighboring countries has led to decisive reactions and border tension. Furthermore, the increasing frequency of Israeli attacks against Iranian forces in Syria has become another significant challenge for decisionmakers in Tehran.
The primary apprehension of the Iranian regime revolves around the risk of uncontrollable escalation, the proximity of conflict to Iran’s borders and potential cracks in the proxy strategy and Iranian deterrence. Another concern is the long-term outcome of the current escalation, including the possibility of a shift in the perceived continuous U.S. withdrawal from the region….
