Iran defiant as world powers work to avert retaliation against Israel
Unlike in April when Tehran telegraphed its attack in advance, Iran has this time kept details of its expected attack against Israel close to its chest.
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WASHINGTON — As the Pentagon’s top Middle East commander sat down with Israel’s defense officials on Monday to coordinate a coalition effort to thwart an expected multifront attack by Iran, Russia’s national security chief, Sergei Shoigu, was in Tehran encouraging Iranian leadership to restrain the scope of that planned attack.
The mirror diplomacy highlighted a moment of shared interest between the two adversaries, which have increasingly competed for long-term influence in the Middle East in recent years.
The region is bracing for anticipated wave of attacks by Iran and Hezbollah against Israel in retaliation for last week’s twin assassinations of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut.
