Why Attacking Iran Poses Greater Risks for the US: Experts Warn of Prolonged Conflict

• Experts warn that an attack on Iran would be far more complex and prolonged than operations like Venezuela, due to Iran's extensive military capabilities and regional proxy forces.
• Iran possesses one of the largest and most diverse missile arsenals in the Middle East, with medium-range ballistic missiles capable of striking US bases and allies over 1,200 miles away.
• Tehran's strategy would be to rapidly escalate instability on multiple fronts, spreading the war and causing difficulties for the US and its allies, including potential retaliation against Gulf countries.
• Iran's proxy forces, such as the Houthis and Hezbollah, could retaliate against US forces and allies, creating multiple fronts and expanding the conflict beyond Iran's borders.
• Removing the Iranian government is not easy due to its theocratic structure, the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and a complex, ideologically driven power structure consolidated over decades.