UM professor believes Israel could soon launch an attack on Iran

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) – As the first anniversary of Hamas’ attack on Israel passes, the conflict in the Middle East continues to escalate.

On Tuesday, University of Montana history professor Dr. Mehrdad Kia, he fully expects that Israel may launch a direct attack on Iran in a few days.

Kia said that in the past, Israel and Iran were once allies, but after the radical Islamic takeover in Iran, that relationship changed dramatically.

UM professor Kia expects Israel to attack Iran directly

“It was only after the 1979 revolution and the arrival of Khomeini and the Islamic Republic in Iran that the relationship between Israel and Iran fundamentally changed,” Kia began. “Iran supports its proxies, Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen.”

Kia told me that, according to its sources in Iran, the country is preparing for a possible attack by Israel.

Kia said Iranian airspace and airports would be closed in the event of an attack

“Israel has more or less defeated Hamas,” he said. “It decapitated Hezbollah. His leadership has been destroyed and now it is Iran’s turn and the Iranian government is very worried. Yesterday, Iranian airports and airspace were closed and an operation was expected.”

Kia said that if Israel does indeed attack targets in Iran, particularly its oil industry, the price of oil could skyrocket, which could also have a devastating impact on the global economy and the upcoming US elections.

“Anything that hits Israel, especially if it includes, for example, oil refineries, ports and the Persian Gulf; Any of these measures can trigger a serious crisis in the oil markets,” he said. “The price of oil would rise, and of course the Biden administration is fearful of the prospect of inflation in the market less than a month before the election.”

Kia did say that it believes neither Russia nor China would come to Iran’s aid if such an attack were to occur.

READ MORE: UM professor Mehrdad Kia on the explosive Iran-Israel conflict

Kia said he believes neither Russia nor China will come to Iran’s aid

“Neither Russia nor China wants to see a nuclear Iran,” he said. “That is, they do not want an Iran with nuclear weapons capability and do not view Iran as a strategic ally. Having nuclear power near Russia and China is virtually unacceptable to Moscow and Beijing.”

Several news sources, such as the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Reuters, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Fox News and ILTV Israel News, state that a direct attack by Israel on Iran could be imminent.

Professor Kia appears monthly alongside UM Professor Emeritus Michael Mayer to host “Global Hot Spots” on KGVO’s Talk Back show.