I don't think Iran is trying to bait Israel into an attack which Iran would say legitimizes an Iranian war with Israel.
(1) If that were the goal, the line in the sand could have been hitting or invading Lebanon. (Last week Iran was standing with Lebanon. Well, that threat didn't do anything, and Iran hasn't been able to do squat, so Syria is the new meaningless line.)
(2) Iran has no intent of open war with Israel. The mullacracy (not iranians) are cowards. They and their mouth piece talk tough, but the talk is all over the board (one day boasting of massive material support to Hezbollah, the next denying it). EVERYTHING is about political warfare -- not hot warfare.
(3) Iran can't fight "wars." The best they can do is send brainwashed paupers, boys, and women with explosive vests to their deaths. So, Iran doesn't want an open and free fire zone war. They want political grayness which they can exploit. The status quo is just fine with them.
No, all they are doing is PR for their campaign to be the Defender of the Faith.
Their defense plan? The world community pulling Israel off the proxies because the proxies are being mauled. In the meantime, Iran works on its nuclear capability and talks tough.
You know the type - in the middle of a fight they turn purple yelling at one of the fighters - so long as someone is standing between them and the fighter they're yelling at. If there were any chance of the fighter gazing at them before unleashing on them, they'd stay quiet. Notice how Adjdusugu? keeps saying Israel and the U.S. can't even look at Iran?
I agree with that.
They know that Israel (as a civilised nation) would not attack Iran without extreme provocation, so they are pushing it and talking tough.
If Israel even sniffed that Iran had/or where tempted to use Nuclear weapons they would cease to exist.
The problem is that Iran's president doesn't care about the war, and who actually starts it.
He only cares that there is one, and that many Islams die, so that the 12th IMMAM will return and seek vengeance.
This is his goal.