Iran Shifts Attack Strategy, Targeting Jordan Over Gulf States

Following a month-long pause, the United States has resumed attacks on Iran, prompting Iranian responses that have notably shifted focus to targets in Jordan. This marks a departure from Iran's previous strategy of retaliating against U.S. strikes by targeting neighboring Gulf states such as Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia. Instead, Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps has recently concentrated its attacks on bases within Jordan.

Jordan has become the preferred target for the Revolutionary Guard Corps over the past two months. Even during the period when the U.S. ceased its attacks on Iran, the moment they resumed, Jordan was immediately placed back on the Iranian target list. Given the 500-kilometer shared border, interceptions over Jordan have been visible to Israeli citizens from Eilat to the north. The primary objective for Iran appears to be U.S. military bases, though such facilities are present throughout the Middle East.

This strategic shift has led to speculation within the Arab world regarding Iran's choice of Jordan as its exclusive target. Al Jazeera English interviewed Sina Azodi, Director of Middle East Studies at George Washington University, to understand this focus. Azodi suggested that Iran is attempting to mend relations with the Arab Gulf states, acknowledging a mutual need for regional stability despite past threats and attacks.

Azodi explained that Jordan represents a different scenario. Relations between Jordan and Iran have historically been strained, particularly after Jordan signed a peace treaty with Israel. Furthermore, Azodi posits that by striking a more distant target like Jordan, Iran aims to signal to the United States that its operational reach remains extensive.