Iran-U.S. Tensions Will Remain High, Despite Both Sides' Desire To Avoid a War

Both Iran and the United States want to avoid direct military confrontation, limiting the risk that further attacks by Iranian-backed regional militant groups trigger a war between the two countries, but Iran's support of such groups will permanently alter the U.S. strategy against Iran, making it harder to find a path toward peace. On Jan. 30, the Iranian-backed Iraqi militia, Kataib Hezbollah (KH), announced that it was suspending attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria, and called for its fighters to shift to a ''passive defense'' stance. The announcement comes two days after three American soldiers were killed in a drone attack in Jordan that the Islamic Resistance in Iraq umbrella group -- of which KH is a member -- has since claimed responsibility for. In his statement, KH Secretary-General Abu Hussein al-Hamidawi, who is likely at or near the top of the U.S. list of potential Iraqi militia...