9:52 PM ET, October 29, 2023
Here’s what to know about Iran’s role in the broader Middle East conflict
From CNN’s Nadine Ibrahim
Israel “crossed red lines” in Gaza, which could “force everyone to take action” President of Iran Ibrahim Raisi said Sunday, while US National Security Adviser Jack Sullivan warned of an “elevated risk”. Spillover conflict in the Middle East.
While Iran is wary of being drawn into an Israel-Hamas war, experts say it will not be fully in control if it has militia support in the region. Lebanese paramilitary group Hezbollah – Intervene freely as Hamas continues to suffer heavy blows and the death toll in Gaza continues to rise.
“What links all these groups to Iran is their anti-Israel policies,” said Sima Shine, head of the Iran Program at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv, noting that Iran has varying degrees of influence over the groups. Not dictating all their actions.
Raisi’s comments are not the first warning from an Iranian official about the potential for a wider conflict.
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has warned that Israel’s bombardment of Gaza could have far-reaching consequences, saying “it is very possible that many more fronts will be opened” if Israel does not stop its airstrikes.
“This option has not been ruled out, and it is becoming increasingly possible,” he said told Al Jazeera In a recent interview.
Last Monday, Abdallahian said the US had sent two messages to Iran regarding escalation in the region.
“That’s what the first message said United Nations Not interested in escalating the war, the second message stressed that Iran should have self-restraint and that Iran should ask other countries and other countries to exercise self-restraint,” Abdullahian said at a press conference in Tehran. And when messages are delivered.
He said that while the U.S. says it wants to de-escalate, it has contradicted itself by continuing to support Israel.
Trida Parsi, vice president of the Quincy Institute in Washington, said Iran has no desire or desire for a wider war from the United States or Israel, but Washington’s failure to contain Israel could inadvertently de-escalate the region.
