For nearly half a century, Iran has prepared for a war with the United States. Unable to match America’s military power, Tehran has instead focused on ways to impose heavy costs that could shake the Middle East and the global economy.
As a US carrier strike group arrives in the Middle East and US President Donald Trump warns he may strike Iran, fears of a wider war are growing once again. Despite being significantly weakened by Israeli and American attacks last summer and mounting domestic unrest of late, experts say the Iranian regime still has a range of options to hit back – including attacking US interests and Israel, mobilizing allied groups, and launching economic retaliation that could trigger global turmoil.