Amid growing regional turbulence, Jordan has emerged as a critical defensive barrier against Iranian efforts to expand influence in the Middle East. According to information from Jordanian sources, the country’s security services have intercepted multiple Iranian-backed terror cells—part of a largely unpublicized but persistent campaign by Iran to destabilize its neighbors and threaten Israel’s eastern border.
Jordan’s Counter-Iranian Measures: A Legacy of Resistance
For over three decades, Jordan has maintained a strict policy of barring Iranian operatives from establishing a presence on its soil. Iranian-backed forces—including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and affiliated terror proxies—have repeatedly attempted to infiltrate Jordan, mirroring Tehran’s documented efforts and successes in bordering states such as Syria and Iraq. Jordanian authorities, however, have systematically thwarted these incursions through a combination of vigilant intelligence, decisive action, and cooperation with Western and regional allies.
Sources stress that while the capture of terror cells occasionally appears in public discourse, the scale of counterterror operations is considerably broader; many such activities remain classified to protect operational integrity and avoid fueling Iranian propaganda. This policy is a core component of Jordan’s security doctrine, emphasizing both preventative and responsive measures to the ongoing threat posed by the axis of Iranian-backed organizations operating throughout the region.
Iran’s Regional Strategy and Jordan’s Unique Response
The Iranian regime’s modus operandi involves co-opting local actors, exploiting sectarian divisions, and leveraging economic inducements to build long-term assets. In both Iraq and Syria, this strategy has enabled Iran to transform key areas—such as the Damascus shrine of Al-Sayyida Zaynab—into strongholds for military and intelligence activity. Jordan, recognizing these precedents, has consistently rejected similar overtures. One notable example arose when Iranian diplomats attempted to persuade the Jordanian monarchy to permit construction of a “tourist” airport, which officials identified as a potential vector for Iranian infiltration and influence operations—an offer summarily dismissed in Amman.
Although Jordan has no inherent conflict with the Iranian state, it has become a perpetual target of Tehran’s regional campaign. As Iranian influence entrenched itself in the chaos of post-war Iraq and embattled Syria, Jordan’s relatively stable governance and close ties with the West made it an immediate priority for subversion. Iranian efforts to employ Shia pilgrimage or back-channel diplomatic initiatives as a pretext for penetration have been met with consistent resistance by Jordanian authorities and intelligence partners.
Israel-Jordan Security Cooperation Under Strain
While security imperatives have often necessitated close coordination between Jordan and Israel, the bilateral relationship has deteriorated sharply over the past decade. Current ties are widely regarded as the worst in ten years, with disputes over religious sites in Jerusalem and unrest in Judea and Samaria complicating diplomatic contacts. Nonetheless, intelligence and military channels remain active, driven by shared concern over Iran’s moves to open an eastern front against Israel; any Iranian inroads in Jordan would drastically alter the regional security paradigm, making such cooperation essential despite political frictions.
The Fallout of the October 7th Massacre and Regional Repercussions
The October 7, 2023 massacre by Hamas terrorists—recognized as the deadliest antisemitic atrocity since the Holocaust—further destabilized regional alliances. While Jordan condemned attacks on civilians, the incident exacerbated domestic and regional pressures, fueling anti-Israel sentiment and heightening the risks associated with intelligence-sharing. Despite this, Jordan has maintained its focus on internal stability, intensifying surveillance and law enforcement efforts targeting Iranian proxies and affiliates.
US Support: Foundation of Jordan’s Security Architecture
America remains the principal guarantor of Jordan’s continued resilience. Over successive decades, Washington has committed tens of billions of dollars in economic, military, and technical assistance, recognizing Jordan’s status as a linchpin for regional moderation and the preservation of Israel’s eastern frontier. This aid underpins Jordan’s capacity to counter ever-evolving Iranian threats that now span conventional arms transfers, cyber operations, and attempts at ideological radicalization.
Broader Strategic Context: The Axis of Resistance Versus Stability
Iran’s broader objective—to encircle Israel and weaken pro-Western regimes like Jordan—relies heavily on an interconnected web of proxies: Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and Shiite militias in Iraq and Syria. Each represents a node in Tehran’s destabilization doctrine: the use of asymmetrical warfare, information manipulation, and sectarian mobilization to pressure adversaries and extend Iran’s regional reach. Jordan’s insistent defense of its sovereignty, in contrast, stands as a formidable bulwark protecting not only itself but also the greater regional equilibrium.
Jordanian Security Apparatus: Internal Cohesion and the Rule of Law
Central to Jordan’s steadfastness is the professionalism and unity of its security forces, whose operational engagement has quietly but consistently neutralized terror threats with minimal public disruption. Training, much of it facilitated by U.S. and British advisors, has produced a modern, responsive apparatus—helped by broad support from Jordan’s core constituencies, whose trust further immunizes the kingdom from external manipulation. The outcomes of anti-terror operations are handled by courts and in accordance with due process, upholding a legal and moral standard starkly opposed to the abuses perpetrated by Iranian surrogates.
The Regional Chessboard: External Powers and Jordan’s Strategic Choices
Jordan’s resistance to Iranian expansion is complicated by the broader contest among global and regional powers, including Russia’s tenacious presence in Syria. Amman’s pragmatic approach—maintaining diplomatic balance while rejecting Iranian and extremist overtures—reflects a calculation to minimize exposure and maximize security, all while preserving vital alliances with the United States and, where necessary, Israel.
Future Prospects: Sustaining Vigilance in a Dynamic Threat Environment
Despite its successes, Jordan’s leadership recognizes that enduring Iranian attempts at infiltration and subversion require continued vigilance. As regional dynamics shift and non-state actors remain highly adaptive, the kingdom’s ability to deter hostile influence will depend on its ongoing relationships with international partners, the flow of critical aid, and the robustness of its own security and intelligence services. Any weakening of the Jordanian state would pose direct risks to Israel and the wider region, underlining the need for sustained support and regional cooperation.
Conclusion
Jordan’s ongoing resistance to Iranian encroachment exemplifies the determination of a small state to defend both its sovereignty and regional peace. The discretion and professionalism with which its counterterror forces operate—bolstered by U.S. assistance and necessary, if complicated, ties to Israel—have prevented the kind of Iranian entrenchment seen elsewhere in the Middle East. Amid growing instability and renewed threats, this collaboration remains a cornerstone of defense against the ambitions of the Iranian regime and its terror proxies.
