Two lame ducks and the risk of another war with Iran
Writing in Ynet, Dr. Michael Milshtein, a senior researcher at the Moshe Dayan Center at Tel Aviv University, analyzes that following election setbacks in the U.S. and Israel, Donald Trump is weighing renewed strikes or negotiations as Iran threatens retaliation against Gulf states and regional allies prepare for conflict. Milshtein notes that the vulnerable position of two 'lame-duck' leaders raises fears that another confrontation could spread. While officials in Tehran have expressed satisfaction over Trump's midterm defeat, they remain on high alert. Iran expert Danny Citrinowicz explains that if attacked, Iran would likely seek to expand the conflict geographically and activate regional proxies such as Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Iraqi Shiite militias. Meanwhile, regional anxieties are fueled by Benjamin Netanyahu's domestic political crisis and its potential impact on security decisions. Unverified international reports have also touched upon extreme military scenarios, raising fears that politically bruised leaders eager to restore their standing could provoke a dangerous regional escalation.