Saeid Iravani told Al-Monitor that Saudi Arabia’s normalizing relations with Israel in the foreseeable future has reached an impasse following war in Gaza.
Iran’s United Nations envoy said Tehran is not seeking to instigate any regional wars and would only get involved in the Israel-Hamas conflict if its national security interest is threatened, but he warned that an increased US presence in the region leaves it more exposed to an attack.
Iran’s permanent representative to the UN, Saeid Iravani, told Al-Monitor that a beefed up American military presence in the Middle East is not a deterrent for Iran to enter the war if need be.
Iravani said that Washington’s increased military posture in the region, boosting allies’ missile defenses, dispatching aircraft carriers and a submarine, is not equivalent to deterrence.
“Surprisingly, military experts contend that when a military power positions its facilities and forces near a conflict zone, it signifies a display of strength without necessarily intending to engage in the conflict. This positioning can actually leave them exposed to potential harm and attacks,” he said.