TEHRAN, Iran: An Iran regional escalation could include attacks on US and Israeli-linked targets, but Tehran is weighing the risks of striking Israel directly during its election campaign, according to a US intelligence assessment.
Sources familiar with the assessment said Iranian decision-makers believe a direct attack on Israel could trigger an unrestricted military response.
The sources said Tehran is also considering Israel’s domestic political situation. Iranian leaders reportedly want a change of government in Israel and fear that a major war could instead strengthen the right-wing bloc.
An intensified conflict could also lead to a delay in Israel’s election, according to the assessment. Those calculations are weighing against an immediate expansion of direct Iranian attacks on Israeli territory.
The intelligence assessment nevertheless points to plans for broader regional attacks involving American and Israeli targets; however, it does not provide a timetable, specific locations or operational details for any planned strikes.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has meanwhile vowed to defeat Iran and said Israel would seek to bring down the Iranian government.
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The reported Iranian plans and calculations remain based on sources familiar with a US intelligence assessment and have not been presented in the supplied material as publicly confirmed policy by Tehran.
