Interview with Dr. Ayman Yousef | Trump and Netanyahu's electoral calculations may push for a new escalation with Iran
In an interview with Arab 48, Dr. Ayman Yousef, professor of conflict resolution and international relations at the Arab American University in Jenin, analyzes the potential scenarios for escalation between the United States and Iran. Yousef believes that the current escalation is linked to electoral goals for both Trump and Netanyahu, who are trying to exploit the threat to achieve political gains, less than two weeks before the Knesset elections and less than 40 days before the US midterm elections.
In an interview with Arab 48, Dr. Ayman Yousef, professor of conflict resolution and international relations at the Arab American University in Jenin, analyzes the potential scenarios for escalation between the United States and Iran. Yousef believes that the current escalation is largely linked to electoral goals and calculations for both US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who are trying to exploit the threat and intimidation to achieve political and electoral gains. These tensions come less than two weeks before the Knesset elections, where polls show Netanyahu and the right-wing parties unable to form a government, and less than 40 days before the US midterm elections. In response, Iran continues to show readiness for confrontation, hinting at expanding the conflict regionally, especially with the Yemen front ablaze and the Houthis causing severe damage to the Saudi economy and airports. Amid ongoing diplomatic mediation efforts, possibilities of resuming war and negotiation pressure, the region faces open scenarios for a wide escalation.