|
Trending Topics
|
Will Iran Respond to Israel's Operations Against Its Military Expansion in Syria, which Could Lead to an Iran-Israel War?
(MEMRI) Yigal Carmon and A. Savyon - In light of Israel's recent military operations against Iran's military expansion in Syria, Iran now faces a strategic question: whether to respond to these attacks, when doing so could lead to all-out conflict with Israel. Iran's long-term goal in Syria is to expand militarily and economically, gaining control of the country, which will enable it, when the time comes, to act effectively against Israel. It is in Iran's interest to face all-out war with Israel only after it has finished doing so. Other reasons for Iran to postpone responding to Israel's operations include Iran's shaky economic situation and the devaluation of its rial in recent weeks; President Trump's upcoming May 12 decision regarding the future of the nuclear deal; the fragility of the Assad regime; and Tehran's inability to ensure that Russia will stand alongside it militarily against Israel. Iranian spokesmen now talk of postponing the Iranian response to "an appropriate time and place in the future." Israel has, with its operations, made it clear to Iran and Russia that it is ready for war now. The next war has already begun, and it can be stopped only if Iran is deterred from carrying out its threats to wipe Israel off the face of the earth. IDF Col. (ret.) Yigal Carmon, former counter-terrorism advisor to two Israeli prime ministers, is President of MEMRI, where A. Savyon directs the Iran Media Project.