The International Institute for Iranian Studies (Rasanah) has issued the Iran Case File (ICF) for April 2024. The file provides readers in general and researchers in particular with an in-depth analysis and overview of Iran’s variant interactions and affairs. The file is divided into three parts main parts: Developments in Iran’s Internal Affairs, Iran-Arab Interactions and Iran’s Relations With International Powers.
Iran witnessed a series of significant developments that impacted its political, economic, military, social, and ideological spheres. In the first section of the ICF, our research team provides a detailed analysis on four significant topics: reactions within Iran to the Iranian attacks against Israel, Iran and Israel shifting from traditional shadow war to direct confrontation, the economic impacts of Iran-Israel escalation, the Noor Plan on hijab, and the hawza’s response to corruption.
The relationship between Iran and Arab states witnessed significant developments in April. As for Iran’s relationship with the Gulf states, the West has been making serious efforts to revive the peace process with Israel, with the ultimate goal of establishing a Palestinian state. However, Iran is expected to act as a hindrance to this process. Iran has also been attempting to pressure the Gulf states into aligning with its own plans and projects. In Iraq, observers had several explanations for the resumption of attacks on US targets by pro-Iran armed groups. In Syria, the Israeli targeting of an annex to the Iranian consulate and the deaths of several prominent Iranian military commanders ushered in a new phase in the Israel-Iran conflict in Syria.
In this section of the ICF, our research team delves into three key topics related to these significant developments. The first topic is centered around the attempts to draw Gulf states into the cycle of conflict between Iran and Israel. The second topic is focused on the resumption of attacks against US targets by pro-Iran armed groups. Finally, the third topic is related to the potential impact of Israel’s targeting of an annex to the Iranian consulate in Damascus.
Regarding Iran’s relationship with international powers, the United States, in conjunction with its regional and global allies, managed to prevent Iran’s direct attack on Israel. The United States also successfully urged Israel to avoid escalation and respond with a limited counterattack, thereby preventing a direct war between the two countries. In this section of the ICF, we will discuss the consequences of the US response to Iran’s attack on Israel and its impact on the relationship between the two countries.
