Trita Parsi explains how Iran's Axis of Resistance is rebounding to strengthen Tehran's regional leverage.
Trita Parsi, executive vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, noted that Iran's regional allies, known as the Axis of Resistance, are rebounding after being weakened by Israel's military responses to the 2023 Hamas attack. These groups, which include Hezbollah and the Houthis, are once again pressuring Iran's foes and opening new fronts that complicate the regional war. While Israel attempted a decapitation campaign that killed several key leaders, such as Hassan Nasrallah, the Iranian allies have adjusted to the new battlefield landscape. The Houthis, in particular, have shown independence while opening a new front against Saudi Arabia. Recent actions by the Yemen-based rebels have included striking Saudi oil complexes and announcing a blockade of Saudi shipping in the Red Sea. For Iran, these actions demonstrate a coordinated use of the Axis of Resistance to consolidate gains and strengthen Tehran's regional influence. Despite the recent ballistic missile strike on US forces in Jordan and the seizure of the other oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's allies continue to be a strategic asset for Tehran.