SwedenLivingWorld world_2_fill WorldBusiness BusinessSports sports-soccer SportsEntertainmentEntertain

Iran's Balancing Act: "Will Not Be Drawn into War"

Iran is walking a delicate tightrope as the violence between Israel and Hezbollah escalates. The challenge consists of backing allied Hezbollah – without being drawn into a full-scale war.

» Updated: 27 September 2024, 15:44

» Published: 27 September 2024

Iran's Balancing Act: "Will Not Be Drawn into War"
Photo: Vahid Salemi/AP/TT

Iran does not want war, according to several analysts. Not least since a direct military confrontation with Israel would likely worsen the country's isolation and heavily sanctioned economy.

Iran will not be drawn into a war, says Hamid Gholamzadeh, an Iran-based political analyst.

At the same time, Tehran is keen to continue backing its Shia Muslim protégé in Lebanon. On Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that Iran will not "remain indifferent" if a large-scale war breaks out in Lebanon.

Iran and Hezbollah have been closely linked for a long time, with Hezbollah as Iran's closest geographical proxy against archenemy Israel. Over the years, Tehran has, according to intelligence, supplied the Shia militia with large quantities of weapons via Syria.

"Holding back"

An escalation involving Iran directly would primarily benefit Israel and affect the upcoming presidential election in the USA, believes Tehran. According to analysts, Iran is now flexing its muscles as much as possible – without risking provoking Washington.

Iran does not want to play into the hands of its archenemies, says Ali Vaez, an Iran expert at the International Crisis Group (ICG).

In his speech to the General Assembly in New York last week, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian portrayed Israel as a warmonger and Iran as restrained. According to Pezeshkian, Iran has "held back" since Hamas leader Ismail Haniya was killed in Tehran in July – which Israel is generally believed to be responsible for – in order not to jeopardize the peace talks on Gaza.

We made an effort not to respond. They said over and over again that peace (in Gaza) was within reach.

But we never reached the elusive peace. Every day, Israel commits more atrocities, said Pezeshkian.

Trump wants an agreement

Iran is under harsh Western sanctions, both from the USA and European countries. The sanctions were tightened, especially since Donald Trump decided to back out of the nuclear agreement JCPOA in 2018. Iran's nightmare is that Trump will again enter the White House, according to ICG's Ali Vaez.

It would be very harmful to Iran's interests, he says.

In New York, Pezeshkian claimed that Iran is ready to "sit down with Europeans and Americans for dialogue and negotiations". On Friday, Trump also claimed that he would try to reach an agreement with Iran if he became president again – without elaborating.

We must reach an agreement, for the consequences are impossible, says the Republican according to The Times of Israel.

An Islamist movement, created in the early 1980s as a reaction to a conflict situation similar to today's. The Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) had used southern Lebanon as a base for attacks against northern Israel, which led Israel to invade in 1982. Inspired by the Islamist revolution in Iran a few years earlier, Lebanese Islamists formed Hezbollah ("God's party"), a name chosen by the Iranian leader Khomeini.

An explicit main goal has been to expel all "colonialists". In practice, this has meant that much of the armed struggle has been directed against Israel – seen as the representative of the Western world in the Middle East.

Hezbollah has been a political party in Lebanon since 1982 and functions as "a state within a state", with a military power at least as great as the country's army and a strong role in politics and social life.

Tags
TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

Zelensky: Putin is escalating again
1 MIN READ

Zelensky: Putin is escalating again

Biden: ICC Order Scandalous
1 MIN READ

Biden: ICC Order Scandalous

Trump chooses new Justice Minister after resignation
1 MIN READ

Trump chooses new Justice Minister after resignation

Norway: Suspected spy worked at the US Embassy
1 MIN READ

Norway: Suspected spy worked at the US Embassy

Pistorius does not want to take over power from Scholz
1 MIN READ

Pistorius does not want to take over power from Scholz

40 People Killed in Attack in Pakistan
1 MIN READ

40 People Killed in Attack in Pakistan

Police Investigation: Prosecute Bolsonaro for Coup Attempt
1 MIN READ

Police Investigation: Prosecute Bolsonaro for Coup Attempt

Reports: North Korean General Injured in Ukraine
1 MIN READ

Reports: North Korean General Injured in Ukraine

Gaetz drops out after suspicions of buying sex
2 MIN READ

Gaetz drops out after suspicions of buying sex

USA imposes new sanctions on Russia
1 MIN READ

USA imposes new sanctions on Russia

Russia significantly increases defense budget
1 MIN READ

Russia significantly increases defense budget

Foreign Minister: Sweden Supports the ICC's Work
2 MIN READ

Foreign Minister: Sweden Supports the ICC's Work

Expert: ICC decision puts Germany in a difficult situation
2 MIN READ

Expert: ICC decision puts Germany in a difficult situation

ICC: Netanyahu and Gallant guilty of war crimes
3 MIN READ

ICC: Netanyahu and Gallant guilty of war crimes

Trump's choice of minister investigated for assault
2 MIN READ

Trump's choice of minister investigated for assault

Kristersson on the attack: Trying to intimidate the West
2 MIN READ

Kristersson on the attack: Trying to intimidate the West

Mette-Marit's Son Will Not Appeal Detention Order
1 MIN READ

Mette-Marit's Son Will Not Appeal Detention Order

Expert: We are not closer to a nuclear war
2 MIN READ

Expert: We are not closer to a nuclear war

Half a Billion to Ukraine's Defense Industry
1 MIN READ

Half a Billion to Ukraine's Defense Industry

Putin: Tested new medium-range missile
3 MIN READ

Putin: Tested new medium-range missile