Proxies continue to be supplied by Iran
On Saturday, July 19th, CNN presented evidence and cited sources showing that the Islamic Republic is still arming its proxy forces in various parts of the Middle East to enter potential future negotiations from a position of strength after multiple hits from Israeli and American attacks.
The Houthi militias, allies of the Islamic Republic in Yemen, targeted two commercial ships in the Red Sea last week after months of calm in this vital waterway.
The Islamic Republic’s proxy forces in Iraq are also accused of disrupting oil production in the Kurdistan region, and Syrian forces have seized several shipments containing hundreds of missiles destined for Lebanese militias in recent months.
According to CNN, the increased activity of the Islamic Republic’s proxy groups reflects Tehran’s determination to continue supporting a network of disruptive armed groups in the region, a network that has always been a fundamental part of Iran’s deterrent strategy, although this network has failed to prevent recent Israeli and American attacks on Iranian soil.
These actions are taking place ahead of potential negotiations with Washington to reach a new nuclear agreement.
However, so far, neither the United States nor Iran has shown a willingness to make significant concessions.
Michael Knights, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute and an expert on military and security affairs in Iran, Iraq, and the Gulf countries, told CNN that Iran has never intended to stop supplying its groups with arms.
According to Knights, although the Islamic Republic may not be able to send supplies to its regional allies as regularly as before, and the likelihood of their seizure has increased, the Quds Force still wants to assert itself and show that nothing has changed with its recent actions.
