Over the past few weeks, Iran, with the help of its proxy groups, has stepped up operations in war-torn areas of the Middle East. Attacks by Iranian-backed groups against US and Saudi targets have also increased in Iraq, Syria and Yemen.
According to Arab News, one of the reasons for the increasing attacks may be the occasion of the second anniversary of Iranian General Qasim Soleimani who was killed in the US attack. But some experts believe the main reason for the attacks is the resumption of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States in Vienna.
As negotiations move forward, Iranian officials are increasingly optimistic that an agreement will be reached that will ease US sanctions on Iran's financial and political institutions.An official familiar with the matter told Arab News that the basic features of the new agreement between the United States and Iran are clear.
However, Iran's demand that the next US president not withdraw from the nuclear deal has hampered talks. In 2018, former US President Donald Trump withdrew from the nuclear deal, criticizing it. In response, Iran has stopped cooperating with international inspectors who monitor Iran's nuclear infrastructure and uranium enrichment levels.
As soon as US President Joe Biden took office, he began efforts to revive the Joint Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (JCPOI) with Iran. However, President Joe Biden's decision has drawn criticism from regional allies.
Dr. Ras Zammat, an expert on Iran at the National Security Studies Institute in Israel, said recent attacks in Syria and Iraq indicate that one of the main reasons for this is the second anniversary of the assassination of Qasim Soleimani.
In his anniversary speech, Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi blamed Donald Trump for the assassination and vowed to take revenge on the former president.
On Wednesday, pro-Iranian militia al-Qasim al-Jaberin claimed responsibility for a drone and rocket attack in Iraq that did not cause any casualties. The group had posted online that it would continue its attacks until the complete withdrawal of US troops from Iraq.
Experts say that whenever a major political decision is made, the number of attacks in Iraq and Syria increases. The Biden administration's political decision to resume talks with Iran could potentially destabilize basic security arrangements with US allies. US allies oppose a US decision to resume talks with Iran without imposing strict sanctions on its nuclear arsenal.
However, other experts believe that the recent attacks in Iraq and Syria will not have a significant impact on the Vienna talks.
Mohand Hedge Ali, director of communications at the Carnegie Middle East Center, said: "These attacks benefit Iran's internal goals and are of no military importance unless there are major casualties."
According to Rasha al-Qaidi, an Iraqi researcher, the recent attacks on US personnel and facilities could have a small effect on Iran in the talks in Vienna.
John Kirby, the Pentagon's press secretary, blamed the attacks on hostilities with Washington and the death of Qasim Soleimani.
Saudi Arabia's main concern is that in the Vienna talks, Iran has refused to discuss issues related to its ballistic missile program or intervention in the region.
A senior Iraqi official says the situation in the region could worsen if the United States does not take a hard line.
