Iran ’ s nuclear program , in particular, represents a dire threat not only to Israel’s survival but also to global peace, as a nuclear-armed Iran would shift the balance of power in the Middle East and embolden its proxies to engage in further destabilizing actions. The aim was to secure substantial influence in the region, deter Israeli and U.S. Attacks on its own land by keeping their interests under constant threat via proxies , and to strengthen its hand in regional conflicts and any future grand bargain with the United States. In a post–October 7th world, Israel believes that an Iranian bomb poses an existential risk to Israeli security . Thanks to war in Gaza and Lebanon, Israel has dealt significant blows to Iran 's proxy network, particularly Hezbollah. Moreover, back in October, Israel had already taken out some of Iran 's air defense. Iran could turn to transnational terrorism as threats mount of Israeli strike on Tehran’s nuclear facilities, after a weakening of its numerous proxies since the Gaza war. Proxy Dynamics: Iran ’s proxies, including Hezbollah and Hamas, operate with a level of autonomy that complicates Israel ’s military strategy. Direct strikes against these groups risk further escalation, while attacks on Iranian assets could provoke a broader regional conflict . Strikes on nuclear facilities in Iran may increase Tehran’s belief that attaining nuclear weapons is key to establishing a deterrence to regime change. Israel 's airstrikes on Tehran, Iran , on Friday morning marked a dramatic escalation in the proxy war between the two regional rivals, reigniting one of the most consequential questions in.
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