Trita Parsi, author of “Losing an Enemy: Obama, Iran, and the Triumph of Diplomacy,” says Iranian officials had long been worried that Saudi Arabia would instigate a confrontation with Iran or strike on its territory. Blaming Saudi Arabia, Parsi says, may be an effort to shift international anger toward the Saudis, rather than an indication that Iran planned to take action in response. But if Iran did take action, he said, “then obviously we’re looking at a very negative scenario.”
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