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Iran seems like it’s in escalation mode – but all-out war with Israel is the last thing it wants | Lina Khatib | The Guardian

theguardian.com · 1,128 words · saved by 1 readers

The country is on the defensive. While Israel has ironclad support from its allies, Tehran is vulnerable and isolated T it-for-tat confrontation between Israel and Iran has sparked concerns about escalation dragging the Middle East into all-out war. Such a scenario remains unlikely because neither Israel nor Iran would benefit from full-on conflict. But while Israel is feeling emboldened, Iran is on the defensive. Iran’s main interest is self-preservation. It wants to protect its nuclear facilities inside Iran, and its assets in the Middle East, mainly the armed groups it supports, the most valuable of which is Hezbollah. Iran’s leadership continues to claim that it neither directed nor was informed about Hamas’s attack on Israel on 7 October, because they do not want Israel and its allies to target it, or to retaliate in a way that would erode Iran’s influence in the region. Regardless of the nature of Iran’s involvement in Hamas’s unprecedented assault, the country is a key financial

Remains of a ballistic missile near the Dead Sea after Iran’s attack on Israel. Photograph: Ronen Zvulun/Reuters View image in fullscreen Remains of a ballistic missile near the Dead Sea after Iran’s attack on Israel. Photograph: Ronen Zvulun/Reuters Opinion Iran This article is more than 2 years old Iran seems like it’s in escalation mode – but all-out war with Israel is the last thing it wants This article is more than 2 years old Lina Khatib The country is on the defensive. While Israel has ironclad support from its allies, Tehran is vulnerable and isolated Mon 22 Apr 2024 06.13 EDT Last mo

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