Iran is using its foreign policy and diplomatic connections to isolate Israel after the October 7 Hamas attack, with the goal of creating a regional conflict. Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi and chief diplomat Hossein Amir-Abdollahian are leading these efforts. They have conducted outreach to various countries and organizations, including Qatar, Turkey, and BRICS countries, to incite against Israel and the US. Raisi has also reached out to the Vatican and plans to visit Central Asian states, while Amir-Abdollahian has contacted BRICS countries and the Vatican. Additionally, efforts have been made to secure the release of hostages held in Gaza, such as Thai workers kidnapped by Hamas. Iran believes it has an opportunity to leverage the conflict in Gaza to its advantage and has not been deterred by US naval and military assets moving to the region. There have been almost forty attacks on US forces in Iraq and Syria by Iranian-backed proxies since October 7.
Iran’s Diplomatic Offensive Targets Israel and US
