By Michael Rubin
Middle East Forum Observer
March 21, 2025
Prior to October 7, 2023, Iranian-sponsored terrorism and influence in the Middle East was pervasive and insidious, growing ever more dangerous as it inched its way to nuclear weapons and threatened Israeli and U.S. interests in the region. While Iran continues to pose an existential threat to Israel and edges closer to producing nuclear weapons, Israel’s military achievements post-10/7, along with Donald Trump’s win and foreign policy objectives, have significantly diminished the Islamic Republic’s ability to project power. The targeted assassinations of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders, the destruction of much of both terrorist organizations’ infrastructure in Gaza and Lebanon, and Israel’s direct attacks on Iran have all significantly reduced the Mullahs’ ability to achieve their goal of establishing an Islamic hegemon and Shia crescent from Iran to the Mediterranean Sea, including a “ring of fire” surrounding Israel.
Iran’s capacity to threaten Israel and the West in light of these setbacks will be the topic for discussion on the Middle East Forum’s premier episode of a new monthly webinar series featuring internationally-recognized experts and hosted by Lauri Regan and an all-star panel featuring Behnam Ben Taleblu, Gabriel Noronha, and Michael Rubin.