The volatile situation in the Middle East and the greater role played by China in the region may give the US pause for thought.<\/b>
\nThe recent US strike against Venezuela is likely to deepen the Iranian leadership\u2019s concerns about further intervention from Washington but analysts do not expect the leadership will be targeted directly in the same way as Nicolas Maduro.
They pointed to the higher geopolitical stakes in the Middle East compared with Latin America and the greater role played by China, Russia and other countries.
Before the abduction of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, the leadership in Iran had already been grappling with significant nationwide protests and a faltering economy.
Although such demonstrations \u2013 directly targeting the leadership\u2019s legitimacy \u2013 are not unprecedented in Iran, the strikes in Venezuela may intensify the threat against them.
Just one day before US forces abducted Maduro and his wife on Sunday, Trump warned on social media that Washington \u201cwill come to their rescue\u201d if Tehran killed any protesters.
An Iranian official told Reuters that the protests and strikes were \u201ctwin pressures\u201d on the government and said Tehran had less room for manoeuvre \u201cwith few viable options and high risks on every path\u201d.<\/p>\n