“After Years of Vowing to Destroy Israel, Iran Faces a Dilemma,” DNYUZ, 11-1-23.  “Still, Iran does not want regional war, which carries risks for the nation and its religious rulers.  …  The military capabilities of its allies could be significantly diminished by a protracted battle with Israel, and even more so if the U.S. military enters the fray.  The Islamic Republic views the militias as its extended arms of influence, able to strike while affording Tehran a measure of deniability.  They give Iran leverage in international negotiations and a means of tilting the balance of power in the Middle East away from archenemies like Israel and the United States, and rivals like Saudi Arabia.  But if Iran does nothing, its fiery leaders risk losing credibility among constituents and allies.  Some Iranian hard-line conservatives have questioned why Iran’s actions are not matching its rhetoric to “free Al Quds,” or Jerusalem, from Israel’s rule.”  Another way of saying this is that Israel won’t attack first.  Iran doesn’t want to be seen as the aggressor but acting in self defense.

This same article, originally from the NYT, was criticized for seeming to incite Iran to attack through Hezbollah or otherwise.  Also, the “Times was widely panned over its botched coverage of the explosion that occurred at Gaza’s Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital, running Hamas’ narrative that Israel bombed the building through an airstrike killing over 500 civilians. Subsequent reporting and intelligence found it was an explosion in the hospital’s parking lot stemming from a misfired rocket fired by Hamas ally Islamic Jihad, resulting in a death toll a fraction of what the Hamas-controlled Gaza Ministry of Health had first alleged. The following week, The Times published an editor’s note admitting it relied “too heavily” on Hamas’ word.”

“Iran’s Khamenei calls for boycott of Israel amid Gaza bombardment,” Al Jazeera, 11-1-23.  Good luck on getting all Muslim countries to stop selling oil and food to Israel.  Already Turkey won’t go along.

“Executions in Iran are up 30%, a new United Nations report says,” AP, 11-1-23.“Iran is carrying out executions “at an alarming rate,” putting to death at least 419 people in the first seven months of the year, the United Nations chief said in a new report. That’s a 30% increase from the same period in 2022. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in the report to the U.N. General Assembly on the human rights situation in Iran that seven men were executed in relation to or for participating in nationwide protests, sparked by the September 2022 death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was picked up by the morality police for her allegedly loose headscarf in violation of Iran’s Islamic dress code. In all seven cases, information received by the U.N. human rights office “consistently indicated that the judicial proceedings did not fulfil the requirements for due process and a fair trial under international human rights law,” Guterres said. “Access to adequate and timely legal representation was frequently denied, with reports of coerced confessions, which may have been obtained as a result of torture.””

“Turkey, Iran FMs warn over Israel’s expansion of Gaza war, disagree on oil boycott,” Al Monitor, 11-1-23.

“U.S. officials hold their breath for Iranian cyberattacks,” Politico, 11-1-23.

“Hamas leaders feel betrayed by Iran and Hezbollah,” JNS, 11-1-23.

“FBI Director Wray on Iran and the Rising Jihadist Threat,” National Review, 11-1-23.