Iran, the West, and Israel: Moving Toward a Decision

Uzi Rabi, professor at Tel Aviv University, discusses Iran's efforts toward regional hegemony and provides insight into the various scenarios the Israeli government is considering in response.

The Iranian regime is under immense pressure as the West continues to pose crippling sanctions on Iran targeting the bases of the country's economy: its oil and banking sectors. In the background are Israel's statements regarding a military strike and U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta's assessment that an Israeli attack is a likely option. Iran has responded with bolder, antagonistic statements, making it possible for this rhetorical war to escalate into an actual confrontation.

Rabi is the director of the Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and African Studies. He is also a senior researcher in the Center for Iranian Studies and serves as the chair of the Department of Middle Eastern and African History at Tel Aviv University. Rabi is regularly invited by the Israeli Knesset to deliver updates on current developments in the Middle East.