The Commander of the Quds Force at the Diplomacy and Resistance Conference

Regional dynamics are also being reshaped by the weakening of Iran’s traditional "Axis of Resistance." The degradation of Hezbollah’s capabilities in Lebanon and the collapse of the Ba'athist regime in Syria have stripped Tehran of its forward-deployed shields, making the Islamic Republic feel more exposed and vulnerable. Historically, a vulnerable Iran has often been a more aggressive one, as the leadership may feel compelled to lash out directly to prove its relevance and strength. Without the ability to rely solely on proxies to harass Israel, Iran’s reliance on its own ballistic missile corps has become absolute, turning the direct borderless space between the two nations into a primary battlefield.