Gaza talks: Biden's replacement by Harris is a catalyst for Iran to reconsider its escalation track in the Middle East

On August 20, 2024, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken arrived in Doha after a visit to Egypt to continue consultations to secure a ceasefire in Gaza.

The talks above, although not productive, marked the beginning of a trend toward de-escalation in the Middle East after weeks of rising tensions.

The risk of a full-scale Iranian attack has increased significantly after Israel's targeted assassination of key Hamas and Hezbollah leaders, including Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and Fouad Shukr in Beirut on July 31.

These killings were a response to the aggressive actions of Tehran and its proxies, known as the "Axis of Resistance," which put the region on the brink of a broader conflict between Israel and Iran.