On Tuesday, in response to reports that the Obama administration was considering military strikes on Syria, Iranian officials issued a stark warning against U.S. involvement in the region, saying any military strike on Syria by American or NATO forces would lead to Iran launching a retaliatory attack on Israel fanned by “the flames of outrage.”
Afshon Ostovar, Iran analyst with CNA, a not-for-profit research and analysis organization, explains what’s behind this rhetoric and why Iranian officials are anxious to protect their relationship with Syria.