Iran's network of influence in Mid-East 'growing'

[sun rise]

Now that Iran is restarting its centrifuges since we killed the agreement with them, their asymmetrical and mostly successful efforts in the region takes on added importance. "congratulations" Trump - you're prodding them into becoming stronger threats.

Iran's network of influence in Mid-East 'growing'

Iran's regional rivals have spent billions of dollars on Western weaponry, much of it from the UK.

Yet for a fraction of that cost, sanctions-bound Iran has been able to successfully embed itself across the region into a position of strategic advantage.

It has a major influence - verging on a controlling influence in some cases - over the affairs of Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen.

(Iran's efforts in Iraq has caused some backlash)

The Syrian government has long been an Iranian ally. In the country's civil war, Iranian forces, Hezbollah and other Shia fighters, along with Russian air power, have been instrumental in helping President Assad survive and turn the tide against the rebels.

Today, says the IISS report, "Iran is embedding itself in the evolving Syrian government and informal security structures... enhancing its threat to Israel".

 

[Stevicus]

Now that Iran is restarting its centrifuges since we killed the agreement with them, their asymmetrical and mostly successful efforts in the region takes on added importance. "congratulations" Trump - you're prodding them into becoming stronger threats.

Iran's network of influence in Mid-East 'growing'

Iran's regional rivals have spent billions of dollars on Western weaponry, much of it from the UK.

Yet for a fraction of that cost, sanctions-bound Iran has been able to successfully embed itself across the region into a position of strategic advantage.

It has a major influence - verging on a controlling influence in some cases - over the affairs of Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen.

(Iran's efforts in Iraq has caused some backlash)

The Syrian government has long been an Iranian ally. In the country's civil war, Iranian forces, Hezbollah and other Shia fighters, along with Russian air power, have been instrumental in helping President Assad survive and turn the tide against the rebels.

Today, says the IISS report, "Iran is embedding itself in the evolving Syrian government and informal security structures... enhancing its threat to Israel".

I don't think Iran could become any kind of serious threat unless they were backed and supported by a major power, such as Russia or China. That's one reason why alienating and/or antagonizing Russia has always been a bad idea.