Iran sent clear message to Israel says expert

An international relations expert believes Iran was sending a calculated message with its attack on Israel.

 

The Islamic Republic launched around 300 missiles and drones at the state on Saturday.

 

But Israel says it and its allies intercepted most of them outside the Israeli borders.

 

Tehran had warned it would retaliate for a deadly attack on its consulate in Damascus earlier this month.

 

Thirteen people, including two Iranian officials, were killed in the Syrian strikes blamed on Israel.

 READ: Israel on alert after Iranian threat as Gaza war grinds on

Professor Anthoni van Nieuwkerk is the Coordinator for Peace and Security Studies at the Wits School of Governance.

 

He says Iran can either disrupt or assist the Middle East's peace process.

 

"The idea of a truce, a ceasefire, humanitarian aid, Israel's withdrawal from Gaza, the return of all captives - it is on the cards but the Netanyahu government must first come to a realization that the idea of obliterating Gaza and Hamas and its population must stop. Only then do I think does it open the door for a peace process."

 

He says Iran's message was clear.

 

"That if you mess with our diplomats in other countries then you are forcing us to defend ourselves or retaliate and the message was delivered. 

"Now we know that Iran has the strength and the possibility of responding quite aggressively to Israel or the Americans, or Israel and their allies. This means now everybody in the region is recalculating the prospects and the options for deepening the conflict or what it would take to make peace."