Warning of Potential Iranian Escalation Ahead of US Midterm Elections

Middle East analyst Yoni Ben-Menachem warned in an interview with Israel's Channel 14 that the Islamic Republic is likely to escalate regional tensions ahead of the US midterm elections in November. According to Ben-Menachem, Tehran intends to strike US interests in the Middle East and potentially target Israel. He alleged that Iran aims to cause American military casualties, believing this would severely damage Donald Trump's electoral prospects and make it easier for Tehran to deal with the US in the future. Meanwhile, reports from the Financial Times suggest that Iran is considering expanding its range of attacks to Europe. The report indicates that if Donald Trump escalates the conflict, Iran may target locations in southeastern Europe, specifically Bulgaria. This follows Bulgaria's decision last month to allow the use of an airbase for American aerial refueling operations.