Factors and outlook for the Iranian crisis

Dalseung Yu

Professor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies

dsyu@hufs.ac.kr

On January 3, a massive bombing took place in the central Iranian city of Kerman during a memorial service for the fourth anniversary of the death of Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force, Qasem Soleimani, killing nearly 100 people, and the aftermath of the attack is still unfolding. The Kerman attack is highly symbolic. Iran has been waging an active public relations campaign in support of the Palestinians in the Gaza War, which began on October 7 last year, while publicly denying any involvement in the attack, but has refrained from direct armed intervention. However, the Kerman attack is likely to deepen the geopolitical crisis in the Middle East after the Gaza war and could have a major impact on the political landscape of the Middle East and the world in the future.​