In recent days senior Iranian officials have continued to threaten to extend the war to additional fronts if Israel continues its attacks in Gaza and expands the ground operation. The Iranian Foreign Minister warned against the expansion of the war against Israel if it continues its attacks in Gaza; the spokesperson for the Revolutionary Guards stated that the entire region could explode if Israel's attacks continue; and the deputy chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Security Committee in the Iranian Parliament threatened to open more fronts if Israel's “war crimes” continue.
Alongside these threats, Iranian senior officials and media have expressed contempt for Israel's military capabilities. In an interview with the al-Jazeera network, Iranian President Raisi said that Israel's failure to invade Gaza over the weekend is the second victory since the “al-Aqsa Flood,” and that since the Hamas operation on October 7, Israel has not scored a single significant achievement. Revolutionary Guards Commander Salami stated that Israel has deployed many tanks near the Gaza Strip, but has so far refrained from advancing. Previously, Salami claimed that Israel does not have the capability to fight Hamas, which enjoys a distinct advantage in ground combat. In the meantime, the Iranian establishment press presents the IDF's ground operation in the Gaza Strip as a failure. The Tasnim news agency, which is affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards, reported Palestinian sources claiming a withdrawal by the IDF from a number of routes it entered in the Gaza Strip after suffering “severe blows,” and the daily newspaper Hamshahri asserted that Israel was forced to withdraw after three failed attempts to invade Gaza.
Iran's claims regarding Israel's alleged failures are not surprising and reflect the official Iranian narrative that seeks to present Israel as weak, battered, and defeated. At the same time, these messages help Tehran justify its refraining thus far from carrying out its threats to expand the campaign to additional arenas and integrate its partners in the “resistance front,” led by Hezbollah, in an all-out confrontation with Israel. It seems that Iran is still reluctant to open a full front against Israel, which could exact a heavy toll from Hezbollah and perhaps even from Iran itself. Therefore, presenting Israeli military moves as failures and highlighting Hamas's ability to continue to fight successfully and on its own in the face of IDF attacks provides Iran with justification to avoid expanding the conflict in a way that does not serve its interests at this stage.
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