Iran's Supreme National Security Council held an emergency meeting this week. Its members are deeply concerned that the United States will retaliate after an alleged Iranian-backed militia killed three American soldiers and wounded more than 40 U.S. troops in Jordan.

The council, which included the president, foreign minister, military leaders and two aides to the country's supreme leader, discussed how to respond to a range of possible scenarios for Washington's behavior. Both a direct U.S. attack on Iran itself and strikes against the puppet forces that Tehran supports in the Middle East were considered. The New York Times writes about this, citing its sources in the Islamic Republic.

According to them, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei responded with clear orders: to avoid direct war with the United States and to distance Iran from the actions of proxies who killed Americans. He also called for preparations to retaliate if the United States does launch an attack on the country.

It is obvious that neither Iran nor the United States wants to enter into direct confrontation, but they are closer than ever. According to the newspaper, Iran felt that the limit in relations between the two countries, beyond which there was already open war, had arrived. None of the adversaries are willing to show weakness and retreat, which would demonstrate a desire to de-escalate tensions. Policy and leaders are forced to follow public demands to flex their muscles.

According to the NYT, war can also have disastrous consequences domestically for ordinary people. Iran is already suffering from international sanctions, unemployment and corruption. Many Iranians do not want the worst-case scenario, fearing it will make the situation worse. Over the past two decades, people have witnessed the US-led coalition invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq and the civil war in Syria, wreaking havoc and chronic instability.

Be that as it may, both Washington and Tehran are on high alert and are fueling the situation with belligerent rhetoric. Nobody wants war, but it is closer than ever.

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Sources: NYT - DiplNet