February 2, 2024
Podcast: Ray Takeyh on What Iran Wants
By Tikvah Podcast at MosaicIran has sparked conflict across the Middle East over the last few months. What are its aims? Is it succeeding?
Podcast: Ray Takeyh
Since October 7, there have been more than 100 attacks by Iran-backed militias against American forces in the Middle East. On January 28, a drone strike, probably launched by Iran’s most powerful proxy in Iraq, killed three and injured more than 40 American soldiers. Iran-supported Houthis have launched dozens of attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea. Iran’s most important proxy in Lebanon, Hizballah, sustains a low-grade confrontation with Israel. And, of course, 130 Israelis remain hostages to Iran-backed Hamas in Gaza.
In other words, there is a war, sometimes hot, sometimes cool, happening across the entire Middle East involving Iran, Israel, the U.S., and various other smaller actors. What does Iran want out of this war? Is it achieving its objectives? What is it concerned about?