Bruce Hoffman, an analyst at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington, deems Iran as a “paper tiger” mainly relying on its terrorist capabilities. However, he argues that Iran’s global terrorist attacks can potentially be prevented.
Hoffman emphasizes Iran’s lack of strong military forces, pointing out its ineffective missile barrages against Israel. He asserts that Israel’s retaliations have weakened Iran’s crucial proxies and arsenal.
Regarding Arab countries, Hoffman suggests they would quietly support any actions limiting Iran’s threat, despite publicly denouncing violence in the region.
Hoffman underscores the necessity of a political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for lasting peace in the Middle East. He advocates for a two-state solution between sovereign governments to mitigate future threats.
Furthermore, Hoffman believes that Russia and China have limited interests in the Middle East compared to other global conflicts.