Iran has ordered its armed forces to be prepared for a conflict with Israel, but Tehran is seeking to avoid war, even if it means ending support for its allied groups in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip. This was reported by The New York Times.
Four Iranian officials said that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has ordered the development of plans to respond to a possible Israeli attack.
According to officials, Iran is ready to respond to Israel’s actions only in case of serious losses or attacks on critical infrastructure. In the event of aggression, Iran could use up to 1,000 ballistic missiles or blow up the region’s energy resources.
According to The New York Times, Iran is also strengthening ties with Arab countries, warning that supporting Israel during a possible war would make them a legitimate target. At the same time, Iranian political analyst Nasser Imani assured that Iran does not want a large-scale conflict with Israel, as it would only exacerbate the crisis in the region and complicate negotiations with the West to lift economic sanctions.
In recent weeks, the Iranian army has stepped up operations in the border provinces, engaging experienced commanders. Iran fears that ethnic separatists and ISIS militants could use the conflict to launch internal attacks, destabilising the country.
Deterioration of the situation in the Middle East
Since Hamas’s October attack on Israel, the Iranian-controlled Hezbollah group and Yemeni Houthis have significantly intensified their shelling of Israeli territory. In response, Israel launched an operation in southern Lebanon in an attempt to push the militants back from the border.
Israel also conducted a series of operations to eliminate Islamist leaders. In July, one of the leading commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Ismail Ghaniyeh, was killed in Tehran, whose residence, according to sources, was mined and blown up with the participation of Iranian security forces on the orders of the Mossad.
The situation in the Middle East continues to deteriorate, and the threat of a large-scale conflict is growing.
