Iran Plotted Wider War With Help of Its Proxies

Key Points:

• A drone attack targeted the world's largest Saudi oil facility, causing significant smoke, while two gas tankers caught fire at an Egyptian port near the strategic Suez Canal, and missiles struck a U.S. base in Jordan, escalating conflict across the Middle East.
• Iran and its proxy militias have intensified attacks on U.S. allies and key regional targets as part of a coordinated strategy to pressure the United States to halt its campaign against Iran.
• Senior Iranian officials revealed that the recent surge in attacks follows a secret plan developed during a brief cease-fire, aiming to increase the costs of conflict for the Trump administration by opening multiple fronts in the region.
• Mahdi Mohammadi, an adviser to Iran’s chief negotiator, highlighted the emergence of a new "Axis of Resistance," with coordinated yet independently acting proxy forces expanding the scope of the conflict.
• Despite setbacks since Hamas's 2023 attack on Israel, Iran and its allies have demonstrated resilience and an ability to regroup, leveraging renewed chaos to strengthen their regional influence.