6 factors that will determine concessions from Iran

Can war with Iran can be avoided? In recent talks with the West in Baghdad, Iran showed some greater flexibility about its nuclear program. But Iran has a history of trickery in the nuclear arena. Whether Tehran will cooperates with Western demands depends on the following six factors.

5. A weakened Assad in Syria hurts Iran’s support system

Iran will be far more likely to avoid war if President Bashar al-Assad of Syria is weakened or overthrown. Tehran counts on the Assad regime’s support and its influence over Hezbollah, which has thousands of rockets that it could shoot at Israel.

Without Syria and Hezbollah’s support, Iran can’t as easily retaliate against Israel if attacked. And it loses one of its main – and in many ways, only – group of allies.

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