Ray Takeyh on What Iran Wants

Since October 7, there have been more than 100 attacks by Iran-backed militias against American forces in the Middle East. On January 28, a drone strike, probably launched by Iran’s most powerful proxy in Iraq, killed three and injured more than 40 American soldiers. Iran-supported Houthis have launched dozens of attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea. Iran’s most important proxy in Lebanon, Hizballah, sustains a low-grade confrontation with Israel. And, of course, 130 Israelis remain hostages to Iran-backed Hamas in Gaza.