What Could Possibly Go Wrong ?
Iran enters the fray over Gaza:
Iran has warned that it could send Revolutionary Guard naval units to escort humanitarian aid convoys seeking to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza – a move that would certainly be challenged by Israel.
Any such Iranian involvement, raised today by an aide to the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, would constitute a serious escalation of already high tensions with Israel, which accuses Tehran of seeking to build a nuclear weapon and of backing Hamas, the Islamist movement that controls Gaza.
“Iran’s Revolutionary Guard naval forces are prepared to escort the peace and freedom convoys that carry humanitarian assistance for the defenceless and oppressed people of Gaza with all their strength,” pledged Hojjatoleslam Ali Shirazi, Khamenei’s personal representative to the guards corps.
Most likely this is just saber rattling from Tehran. Nonetheless, it’s unlikely to make the Israelis very happy.
Turkey and Iran are vying for position as the Defender of Islam. To be honest I think that’s a positive development since the Turks are the only Middle Eastern power that’s a potential candidate for a balance to Iranian power.