Iran Planned Broad Regional War Through Proxies During Ceasefire, Reports Say

During the recent ceasefire, Iran secretly prepared to escalate conflict in the Middle East through its proxies, according to a New York Times report on Saturday. Tehran aimed to raise the stakes for U.S. President Donald Trump if American strikes resumed, targeting shipping routes, energy infrastructure, and U.S. allies’ assets. The planned attacks were to be carried out alongside Hezbollah, Yemen’s Houthi rebels, and pro-Iranian militias in Iraq.

The coordination was intended to enable a rapid and wide-ranging escalation that would pressure Washington both domestically and internationally. Senior commanders from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards’ Quds Force reportedly held talks with leaders of these proxy groups to finalize the secret plan. This strategy was developed during a fragile ceasefire to ensure a stronger Iranian response if the U.S. renewed military operations.

Meanwhile, Israel’s military remains on high alert amid reports that Trump may expand U.S. strikes against Iran. An Israeli official told CBS that Jerusalem has not been informed of any decision to launch full-scale military operations against Iran and that Israel was not asked to participate. American media also reported possible imminent U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iranian energy facilities.

Separately, the Washington Post revealed that U.S. European Command chief General Christopher G. Cavoli warned the Pentagon in writing about a shortage of U.S. Navy destroyers needed to intercept ballistic missiles potentially launched toward Israel. He indicated that without additional destroyers, U.S. homeland defense would take priority over Israel’s missile defense. The tensions come amid renewed cyberattacks on U.S. water systems, suspected to be Iranian, and ongoing exchanges of fire between Iran and the U.S., with uncertainty over Trump’s next moves.