Israel Assesses Iran May Activate Hezbollah as Rial Hits Record Low

Israeli officials assessed Iran could activate Hezbollah as Iran's economy buckles, with the rial hitting a record low against the dollar and tankers coming under renewed fire in the Strait of Hormuz. Inside Iran, public transportation was reported largely paralyzed by diesel shortages, with residents describing selling possessions to afford food and medicine.

Why this matters. A collapsing Iranian economy raises the odds Tehran leans on Hezbollah for asymmetric retaliation rather than direct confrontation, a scenario Israeli defense planners are actively weighing for northern-front readiness.