Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched six ballistic missiles toward eastern Syria this week, targeting militants it blamed for an attack on a military parade in the city of Ahvaz last month, while also threatening regional adversaries as its nuclear deal with world powers unravels. The long-range missile attack in itself is not a first for the Iranian elite forces, but the media frenzy and style of reporting that accompanied the attack betray a regime desperate to look like a major player on the world stage. Daesh’s involvement in the attack on the parade in southern Iran is not confirmed, and its retreating militants could have been more appropriately dealt with by Syrian or Iranian ground troops present in the border area between Syria and Iraq. But the attacks are a clear show of force from a regime that feels increasingly pressured. Though details of how damaging the strikes were to Daesh positions are yet to emerge, the Iranian leadership’s main objectives were met through the distribution of launch images showing its aerospace agency’s capabilities, as well as the boasts that Iranian-made drones participated in the long-range attack and missiles carried by drones were fired at the Daesh HQ in Hajin. It was reminiscent of “shock and awe,” Iranian style; warning everyone about its capabilities and that the return of tighter US sanctions on Tehran next month will not be accepted without a war of words, as well as the usual indirect Iranian responses through its many militia groups and agents active in the Middle East region and beyond. The missile attacks have, if anything, added more confusion over who carried out the assault on the military parade in Ahvaz on Sept. 22, which killed at least 24 people and wounded more than 60. Iran initially blamed Arab separatists for the attack that saw gunmen disguised as soldiers open fire on a crowd and officials watching the parade from a viewing platform in the southwestern city. Whether or not Iran retaliated against the real authors of last month’s attack is not as important as the launch itself and the media coverage the regime in Tehran chose to give the event. They reflect Tehran’s increased isolation and serve as a warning to several parties in the region, namely the US and its Arab allies in Saudi Arabia and the UAE that Tehran possesses the means and missile range to reach them. Earlier, Iran’s supreme leader had called out those two Arab nations by name, accusing them of being behind the attack, which was denied by both Riyadh and Abu Dhabi. Iran’s missile attack targeted the area of Al-Bukamal, which is close to the border with Iraq, with the main town held by forces loyal to Syria’s embattled President Bashar Assad. However, it has seen several attacks by Daesh militants, who have been able to keep a few pockets of territory in the area under their control. Iran’s leadership is again failing to see that caring for its people’s well-being and progress pays more dividends than all its ideological wars and regional posturing Mohamed Chebaro The strike on Monday marked the second such attack by Iran in the space of a month and highlighted the greater tension felt in Tehran as US sanctions targeting its oil industry will take effect in early November. But the strikes are also thought to be sending messages internally and externally that Tehran is not likely to yield to regional or international pressures aimed at curbing its influence and its continued support of terrorism and meddling in the region, from Iraq and Lebanon to Syria and Yemen. The missile strikes sent, above all, a message domestically that the regime, though suffering from economic and political difficulties, is still in charge; and Iranians should be proud of their military despite months of protests that have accused the government of a failure to address economic and social problems amidst rising corruption and economic mismanagement. They also indicate the rising tension in the region since President Donald Trump pulled the US out of Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers in May. Though Tehran has continued to honor the nuclear deal by limiting its enrichment of uranium, the US withdrawal from the deal has further weakened Iran’s troubled economy and the rial is now trading at about 170,000 to the dollar, down from 39,000 just a year ago. Iranian TV reports on the launch of the missiles point to a country in need of a morale boost internally and a flexing of the muscles externally — in other words, more of the same old behavior that 40 years of post-revolutionary Iran has failed to heal. Its leadership is again failing to see that caring for its people’s well-being and progress pays more dividends than all its ideological wars and regional posturing, which only result in more dissent, more violence and more economic hardship. Mohamed Chebaro is a British-Lebanese journalist with more than 25 years’ experience covering war, terrorism, defense, current affairs and diplomacy. He is also a media consultant and trainer. Disclaimer: Views expressed by writers in this section are their own and do not necessarily reflect Arab News" point-of-view