Escalation: Iran tries to go to full-scale war again
The US identifies Iranian attempts to escalate the war into a full-scale conflict. In recent days, Iran has fired missiles at American ships, including ballistic missiles with maneuverable warheads, closer to hitting than before. Meanwhile, the IAEA Board of Governors has decided to refer Iran to the UN Security Council for the first time in 20 years, over nuclear non-cooperation.
The US identifies a significant escalation by Iran, manifested in repeated attempts to hit American warships in the Middle East. In recent days, Iran has launched ballistic missiles at American vessels, including an aircraft carrier, and a large volley at American forces in Jordan, where 18 out of 20 missiles were intercepted. According to a Wall Street Journal report, the attempts were closer to hitting than before, partly due to the use of warheads with maneuvering capability. The US fears that Russia or China are helping Iran locate ships. Meanwhile, the IAEA Board of Governors, led by the US, France, Germany, and the UK, has decided to refer Iran to the UN Security Council for the first time in 20 years, over nuclear non-cooperation. The escalation comes amid heavy economic pressure on Iran: an American naval blockade that has hit oil exports, inflation of over 80%, and an expected economic contraction of 5.4%.