Iran has a long history of clandestine attacks abroad to further its ends

If Tehran was behind antisemitic attacks in Australia, experts say it is a sign of weakness rather than strength

Iran's involvement in clandestine violence and espionage overseas takes many forms, but all have a single aim - to win advantage for Tehran by striking unexpectedly at the soft underbelly" of enemies.

It's a strategy that dates back to the 1979 revolution, and is rooted in a pragmatic if regretful assessment of Iran's continuing weakness on the conventional battlefield.