Iran saw MoU as attempt by Israel, US to buy time for larger attack, so it did the same - report

Iran interpreted a memorandum of understanding with the United States as a ploy by Israel and the US to buy time before launching a larger attack, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal. Iranian and Arab officials, as cited by the WSJ, indicated that Iranian leaders had been planning potential attacks on enemy territory, which would expand the scope of the conflict and raise the cost for the US.

Iranian defense analyst Mohammad Hassan Sangtarash noted that the current phase of the war has not yet begun, describing the limited, incremental escalations as "salami-slicing" tactics aimed at weakening capabilities prior to a larger confrontation. Iran's preparations included sending advisors to Iraq, Yemen, and Lebanon to discuss plans for its proxy militias, while the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) supported the Houthi group in Yemen by supervising missile and weapon deployments targeting the Red Sea, providing lists of targets, and offering guidance.

The IRGC also threatened Gulf states, vowing to target their energy facilities if the US did the same, with specific target lists provided. Other IRGC plans include sabotaging internet cables, inciting political unrest in countries with significant Shia populations, and conducting ground operations in Kuwait. Former US diplomat and nuclear negotiator Alan Eyre stated that Iran's perspective is that of war, emphasizing that Iran remains in a wartime footing, preparing for subsequent attacks.

The appointment of Ahmad Vahidi as the new Revolutionary Guard Commander in Chief, as mentioned in the WSJ, aligns with a leadership preparing the security establishment for sustained confrontation rather than returning to normal peacetime politics.