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  • Israel’s Iran attack carefully calibrated after internal splits, US pressure

    Israel's apparent strike on Iran after days of vacillation was small and appeared calibrated to dial back risks of a major war, even if the sheer fact it happened at all shattered a taboo of direct attacks that Tehran broke days earlier.
    Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's war cabinet had initially approved plans for a strike on Monday night inside Iranian territory to respond forcefully to last Saturday's missile and drones from Iran, but held back at the last-minute, three sources with knowledge of the situation said.

  • The U.S. Prevented War, Yet Iran’s Strategic Decision-Making Process Remains Flawed

    The Israeli military is believed to have carried out strikes against a target in Isfahan, central Iran, on April 19. This action was reportedly in retaliation for Iran’s April 13 missile and drone attack against Israel, which itself was in response to Israel’s April 1 targeting of the Iranian Consulate in Damascus, Syria. While these exchanges of attacks and counterattacks have the potential to escalate and engulf the entire Middle East region in conflict, they did not escalate further. Encouraged by the United States, both Israel and Iran exercised restraint and may even glean lessons in prudence from the crisis. However, the Iranian regime should reassess its strategic decision-making process to minimize the risk of dangerous miscalculations.

  • Commentary: Gulf states’ response to Iran-Israel conflict may decide outcome of crisis

    Dana Stroul, who until December was the most senior civilian official at the Pentagon with responsibility for the Middle East, insisted: “Whatever regional politicians may say, the military, security and intelligence establishments of both the Arab states and Israel are quite clear – that Iran is the centre of gravity for instability, the export of terrorism and its illicit nuclear weapons programme.”

  • Iran says nuclear weapons have no place in its nuclear doctrine

    Nuclear weapons have no place in Iran's nuclear doctrine, the country's foreign ministry said on Monday, days after a Revolutionary Guards commander warned that Tehran might change its nuclear policy if pressured by Israeli threats.
    "Iran has repeatedly said its nuclear programme only serves peaceful purposes. Nuclear weapons have no place in our nuclear doctrine," ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani said during a press conference in Tehran.

  • First Iran group in nine years heads to Saudi Arabia for umrah pilgrimage

    The first group of Iranian pilgrims in nine years made its way to Saudi Arabia on Monday for the umrah, or minor pilgrimage, Iran's official news agency reported, as a result of improving ties between the two Middle Eastern powers.
    Iranian media had said in December that Saudi Arabia had lifted restrictions on Iranians wanting to perform umrah but flights were delayed until now due to what Tehran called "technical problems".

  • Iran’s strikes did little damage to Israel — but analysts say Tehran benefits anyway

    “For other countries in the region, the Iranian attack on Israel is a preview of the nightmare scenario involved in a direct confrontation with Iran,” Alhasan told Breaking Defense. “Whereas Israel has the capabilities and Western support it needs to intercept most of Iran’s missiles and UAVs, other states in the region (which are less capable and geographically closer to Iran) do not.”

  • Israel conducted strike on Iran, senior U.S. official says

    Fars news agency, which is affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), reported explosions were heard in the city of Isfahan in central Iran near an Iranian air force base.

  • Iran vs Israel: A look at their air forces amid fears of extended conflict

    The Iranian air force has 37,000 personnel, but decades of international sanctions have largely cut the country off from the latest high-tech military equipment, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London (IISS).

  • Scenario-mapping: Iranian conservative media think out Israel’s next steps

    Amid anticipation of Israeli reprisals for Iran’s Apr. 14 attack on military sites in Israel, Iranian media is rife with speculations about possible scenarios ahead. Speaking to pro-reform Sharq daily, controversial pundit and retired professor Sadeq Zibakalam said it would be unwise not to get prepared for the worst-case scenario, referring to all-out war. Reviled by hardliners, Zibakalam has come under sharp criticism from conservatives in recent days over his warnings about major threats ahead.

  • Amid threat of war, Iran faces public backlash over hijab crackdown

    Iran has renewed a push to impose the mandatory Islamic dress code. The move follows a call by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei for hijab regulations to be respected. In the aftermath of nationwide anti-establishment protests in 2022, a rising number of women have abandoned headscarves. The current crackdown has prompted strong criticism on Iranian social media, reviving the battle of wills between the state and much of society over obligatory hijab.