I think I would have left much sooner if I were there. Iran has claimed this January to have tested a 10,000 km ICBM with Russia allowing it to fly towards Siberia. This puts NYC and East Coast possibly within range. The claim has not been verified, but given the vitriol between the US and Iran, if they have it, and we overwhelm them with naval and air force presence, we may provoke a real world test of their claim.
What would targeting NYC help Iran? Aren't there more interesting targets they could go for which would take advantage of the inflamed political situation in the US?
I think it's much more likely that they would strike back at a regional ally if anything. Keeping some of their cards hidden and not risking a unifying shock to the US populace
Iran's leaders are caught in a trap of their own making. For decades they've held up America and Israel as villains and used that boogeyman to justify their military and police expenditure.
After this Israel-Gaza war, Iran's proxies who fought Israel on their behalf (Hamas, Hezbollah) are mostly destroyed. Their allies in the Gulf States (Qatar) have buckled to US pressure over the war. When they've tried to strike Israel directly, combined US-Israeli antimissile defenses stopped it dead in its tracks. Now hundreds of thousands of protestors are thronging the streets and the regime realizes it cannot kill or jail all of them.
In short, Iran has realized that its conventional military will not be able to prop up the regime if anyone decides to attack or arm a rebellion.
That's the motivation for this. The hateful theocratic rulers of Iran see the US as a bigger threat, and are chasing a nuclear weapon as the one they might actually get some protection with.
The other reading is that Iran tried pursuing nuclear power through legal means (since the 50s!), but deals were reneged and obstacles were put up at every turn. They then pursued enrichment on their own terms while keeping the door open for negotiation.
But Israel and the US do not want to negotiate. The empire wants to neuter Iran’s capabilities by force, hence the escalation and ongoing threat of war.
In fact, I would argue that Iran has proven time and again to be a much more restrained and diplomatic regional power than Israel. At best, it’s the pot calling the kettle black.
Also, defeating Iran is not going to be as “simple” as it was with Iraq. They are a resilient people with a long history of struggle in a country with highly defensible terrain. The opposition is overblown, and was actually damaged after the 12 day war as it ended up rallying many Iranians around the flag. Read up on the Iran-Iraq war to see what they’re capable of.
I don’t think modelling Iran as a monolithic political actor works anymore.
Between the IRGC, President, clerical ranks and others, I’m sure, some groups may benefit from striking New York or even inviting American retaliation in ways that don’t make sense for the country as a whole.
I think I would have left much sooner if I were there. Iran has claimed this January to have tested a 10,000 km ICBM with Russia allowing it to fly towards Siberia. This puts NYC and East Coast possibly within range. The claim has not been verified, but given the vitriol between the US and Iran, if they have it, and we overwhelm them with naval and air force presence, we may provoke a real world test of their claim.
What would targeting NYC help Iran? Aren't there more interesting targets they could go for which would take advantage of the inflamed political situation in the US?
I think it's much more likely that they would strike back at a regional ally if anything. Keeping some of their cards hidden and not risking a unifying shock to the US populace
Iran's leaders are caught in a trap of their own making. For decades they've held up America and Israel as villains and used that boogeyman to justify their military and police expenditure.
After this Israel-Gaza war, Iran's proxies who fought Israel on their behalf (Hamas, Hezbollah) are mostly destroyed. Their allies in the Gulf States (Qatar) have buckled to US pressure over the war. When they've tried to strike Israel directly, combined US-Israeli antimissile defenses stopped it dead in its tracks. Now hundreds of thousands of protestors are thronging the streets and the regime realizes it cannot kill or jail all of them.
In short, Iran has realized that its conventional military will not be able to prop up the regime if anyone decides to attack or arm a rebellion.
That's the motivation for this. The hateful theocratic rulers of Iran see the US as a bigger threat, and are chasing a nuclear weapon as the one they might actually get some protection with.
That’s one reading.
The other reading is that Iran tried pursuing nuclear power through legal means (since the 50s!), but deals were reneged and obstacles were put up at every turn. They then pursued enrichment on their own terms while keeping the door open for negotiation.
But Israel and the US do not want to negotiate. The empire wants to neuter Iran’s capabilities by force, hence the escalation and ongoing threat of war.
In fact, I would argue that Iran has proven time and again to be a much more restrained and diplomatic regional power than Israel. At best, it’s the pot calling the kettle black.
Also, defeating Iran is not going to be as “simple” as it was with Iraq. They are a resilient people with a long history of struggle in a country with highly defensible terrain. The opposition is overblown, and was actually damaged after the 12 day war as it ended up rallying many Iranians around the flag. Read up on the Iran-Iraq war to see what they’re capable of.
> What would targeting NYC help Iran?
I don’t think modelling Iran as a monolithic political actor works anymore.
Between the IRGC, President, clerical ranks and others, I’m sure, some groups may benefit from striking New York or even inviting American retaliation in ways that don’t make sense for the country as a whole.
Probably similar reasons for Iraq targeting NYC in 2001
Iraq was not involved in the 9/11 attack.
'/s' not added, for dramatic effect?
Bush-era fabrications really worked on some people, I guess
Or is this a hard-to-parse witticism about Iran?
> What would targeting NYC help Iran?
Destroy the infidels? Of course it doesn't exactly help anyone, but at least that's what their leadership keeps telling Iranians.
https://nolabels.org/the-latest/irans-leaders-still-hate-ame...
The proxy war is coming to a head.