Iran: They’re Not Going To Be As Willing To Sit Back And Let The US Dictate The Pace–Elmasry
According to a report by Al Jazeera on Saturday, September 5, 2026, Mohamad Elmasry, a professor at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, has predicted that Iran could increase its military activities during the “coming eight weeks or so”.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, Elmasry referred to a report published by The New York Times, which he said cited US intelligence officials who believe Iran is likely to adopt a more offensive approach rather than remain focused on defence.
“In fact, there was a report published in The New York Times that said as much, citing US intelligence officials who believe that the Iranians are going to play more offence than defence,” Elmasry told Al Jazeera. “They’re not going to be as willing to sit back and let the United States dictate the pace and intensity of the conflict.”
The professor explained that Tehran’s strategy could be influenced by its belief that it may be able to take advantage of what it considers a period of relative weakness for US President Donald Trump.
Elmasry said Iranian leaders are also conscious of the economic challenges confronting the United States and the possible political impact of continued instability as the country approaches its midterm elections.
“They know that the US economy cannot afford further hits, that the Republicans, if they’re going to perform well at the midterm elections, cannot afford further instability … Based on that logic, they are more likely to escalate right now and hit Donald Trump where it hurts,” he added.
According to Elmasry’s assessment, Iran could therefore shift toward a more aggressive military strategy instead of primarily responding to actions taken by the United States.
He suggested that Tehran might consider the present circumstances an opportunity to place greater pressure on Trump while Washington faces economic and domestic political difficulties.
Elmasry’s remarks raise the possibility that the conflict could enter a more intense phase in the coming weeks if Iranian authorities determine that increased military pressure could influence decisions being made by the US administration.
CIURTESY: Azizah
