Iranian Experts Warn of Imminent Regional War Amid Israeli Escalation
Tehran - Following a series of aggressive actions by Israel, including the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and airstrikes that reached Beirut and targets in Syria and Yemen, Iranian analysts are increasingly concerned that the region is on the brink of a comprehensive war. Divisions exist within Iranian circles regarding Tehran's potential involvement and response to these provocations.
Mehdi Motahhar Nia, head of the Simorgh Parekh Institute for Future Studies, suggests that the current geopolitical landscape is influenced by a new world order where major powers, including the United States, Europe, and China, view Iran and its allies as obstacles to their strategic goals. He highlights that the recent military escalations are part of a broader strategy to weaken Iran’s influence in the region.
Motahhar Nia connects the events of September 11, 2001, to the recent conflict surrounding Israel and its adversaries, arguing that Western powers are attempting to draw Iran into a full-scale war. He warns that Israel may increase its military actions against Iranian allies to preempt potential retaliatory operations.
Mohammad Mehdi Mazaheri, a former advisor to the Expediency Discernment Council, echoes these sentiments, claiming that Western nations have tacitly allowed Israel to escalate tensions under the guise of securing its settlements. He believes that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is leveraging this situation to gain time, hoping for support from potential future allies in the U.S. presidential elections.
Moreover, Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh, a former head of the Iranian parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, predicts that the ongoing Israeli aggression will trigger an unprecedented arms race in the Middle East. He warns that as military budgets increase, discussions around nuclear armament will intensify among regional nations, driven by perceived threats from Israel and its Western allies.
Falahatpisheh emphasizes that Iran will not initiate conflict unless directly threatened, yet he acknowledges that any breach of Iranian sovereignty could lead to a swift and broad military response. He cautions that the consequences of a comprehensive regional war could be catastrophic, urging Western powers to heed Iranian warnings to de-escalate the situation.
