Iran has 'military advantage over US and allies in Middle East'

Thinktank says third parties such as Shia militias are more important to Tehran than nuclear plans

Patrick Wintour Diplomatic editor
Thu 7 Nov 2019 00.01 GMT
Last modified on Thu 7 Nov 2019 00.03 GMT

Iran now has an effective military advantage over the US and its allies in the Middle East because of its ability to wage war using third parties such as Shia militias and insurgents, according to a military thinktank.

In one of the most detailed assessments of Iran’s strategy and doctrine across Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) concludes Iran’s “third party capability” has become Tehran’s weapon of choice.

The 16-month IISS study called Iran’s Networks of Influence claims these networks are more important to Iranian power than either its ballistic missile program, putative nuclear plans or its conventional military forces.

Overall, conventional military balance is still in favour of the US and its allies in the region, the report concludes, but the balance of effective force is now in Iran’s favour.

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