Iran appears to be pursuing a high-risk strategy of endurance and deterrence: absorbing attacks, preserving the regime, and using proxies, missiles, drones and threats to shipping to impose costs on adversaries while managing escalation. That posture prioritizes survival and gradual retaliation over seeking decisive battlefield victories, increasing the likelihood of a prolonged, attritional conflict. The approach amplifies regional instability and economic disruption, especially in the context of recent Israeli strikes in Lebanon and reported attacks on Tehran and Beirut.
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