Iran has lost much of its power over the past two years. It has seen the reach of its militia arms across the region diminished, and its military strength at home weakened. Many of its leaders have been assassinated in succession, much of its weaponry and military capability destroyed, and several of the actors it once backed in the region have fallen. Iran understands how difficult its battle has become in the face of the US-Israeli war against it, as does Hezbollah.
From the outset of the war, Arab Gulf states and Jordan have come under fire. Tehran claimed it was targeting only American bases, but this is a lie. Hezbollah also lied when it promised it wouldn't drag Lebanon into war with Israel, only to do just that at the behest of Iran, with little or no regard to the Lebanese people and specifically the Shiite majority population of the south, who have been displaced.
Iran's strategy is to widen the war to make the cost so great for regional countries—and the world—that they pressure the US to back off. It has succeeded in inflicting direct material losses across the region, sending global oil prices soaring.
Sleeper cells
More recently, reports have emerged alleging that Iran is activating sleeper cells worldwide, particularly in the Arab world, to begin destabilising internal security in the countries where they are present.
For example, Kuwait’s Interior Ministry announced that it had foiled a terrorist plot targeting vital facilities in the country and arrested 10 people belonging to a terrorist group linked to Hezbollah. One can also read the announcement by the UAE State Security that it had dismantled a terrorist network funded and run by Lebanese Hezbollah and Iran, and arrested its members. Other Arab countries may also be exposed to attempts by Iran or its cells to carry out terrorist acts, destabilise security, and even stir sectarian strife.
