Iran's Calculated Risk As the US midterms approach, Tehran appears to be testing Washington's mettle through a carefully calibrated escalation of tensions in the Persian Gulf.
The regime's strategy is both familiar and intriguing – it seeks to impose costs on its adversary without triggering a full scale war.
Historically, Iranian leaders have walked a tightrope between confrontation and conciliation, seeking to extract concessions from their opponents while avoiding direct military engagement.