Description: The head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Esmail Ghaani, has reportedly met with the leaders of Iran’s proxy groups in Baghdad where severe rearmament efforts have been discussed. The reports arrive as Iran still rallies from the consequences of the US – Israeli airstrikes in the 12 – day war which caused the destruction of the country’s nuclear enrichment sites. Yemen’s government in exile has also recently reported that large shipments of weapons and equipment have been intercepted which were reportedly headed for the Houthis and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Iran’s conventional armed forces Major General, Amir Hatami, also held meetings with IRGC’s Commander, Mohammad Pakpour where reportedly the preparation of Iran’s defensive capabilities was discussed in case of renewed aggression from Israel or the US.
Impact: Iran’s rearmament of its regional proxy groups is complementary to recent information of obtaining aerial defense missiles from China and the several intercepted shipments meant to reach the Houthis in Yemen and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Israel and the US have remained undetermined whether to engage in negotiations with Iran after contested reports regarding the state of the country’s nuclear enrichment facilities emerged. Last week, France, the UK and Germany as participatory countries in the JCPOA threatened Iran with renewed snapback sanctions if the country continues to refuse diplomatic engagement. The most recent developments indicate the reemergence of hostilities after the US and Israel exploited the latest negotiation efforts to launch an aerial campaign against Iran. With Israel and the US passively refusing to negotiate, Europe’s involvement in Iran’s disputed nuclear program issue could be crucial towards avoiding renewed cycle of warfare and the instigation of the crisis in the Middle East.