Iran's Moderates Growing Weaker Due To Virus; Will They Lash Out Against Israel?

As Iran struggles with coronavirus, will it lash out against Israel, US?

by  Israel Kasnett ,  JNS ,  Israel Hayom Staff

With the chaos of the coronavirus, will Iran take advantage of Israel's perceived weakened state to attack through proxies? Iran may perceive Israel's military as being unable to call up masses of reserves or send large groups of civilians into close quarters in rocket shelters due to coronavirus restrictions. Will Iran attack?

This was one of the questions posed in a conference call hosted by the Jewish Institute of National Security for America (JINSA) on the security implications of the coronavirus for Iran and the Middle East. The call featured JINSA Fellow Yaakov Amdiror, Israel's former Israeli National Security Adviser, and also JINSA Fellow Itai Shapira, former deputy head of the Research and Analysis Division (RAD) in the Israel Defense Forces.

According to Amidror, the extent of the disease in Iran is not really known. "It is clear the Iranians are not telling the truth and are hiding the real situation," he said. "We know that the numbers are growing and are much greater than those announced by the authorities. As far as can be judged from the outside, without having the real information, everything is out of control."

He said Iran made a huge mistake in the beginning, allowing flights between Iran, China, and Lebanon. "Iran is the center of spreading the virus around the Middle East because people are flying between Beirut and Tehran," he said.

On Tuesday, the spokesperson for the Iranian Health Ministry announced a total of 988 deaths as a result of COVID-19, with nearly 15,000 infected, according to reports. As of Friday, the number of infected had risen to 19,644.

Regarding Iran specifically, he said, "this is now one of the biggest challenges Iran has faced since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. This could not have come at a worse time for Iran, after the maximum pressure policy placed on it by the US, after the sanctions, after the protests a few months ago, after the downing of a Ukrainian airliner, and now the low oil prices. This is a unique challenge for the regime."

Shapira said that the so-called "moderate" camp, including President Hassan Rouhani, in Iran is growing weaker as a result of the virus. "We see it in the streets. This is a president who is considered a failure. He is not succeeding in providing economic relief, not succeeding with the JCPOA, not lowering gas prices, and now failing with the coronavirus crisis," he said.

"The IRGC and military are becoming stronger and more dominant," he warned.