8.3 Iran's foreign policy and regional ambitions post-revolution

Iran's foreign policy since the 1979 revolution centers on exporting Islamic ideology, opposing Western influence, and establishing regional dominance. These principles shape Iran's approach to international relations, driving its support for Shia communities and militant groups across the Middle East.

Iran's regional involvement is complex, marked by rivalries with Saudi Arabia and Gulf states, and active participation in conflicts. Its support for groups like Hezbollah and Hamas allows Iran to project power beyond its borders, challenging Western interests and shaping the geopolitical landscape of the region.

Iran's Foreign Policy Principles and Objectives

Principles of post-revolution Iranian foreign policy

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• Exporting the Islamic Revolution
  • Promoting Shia Islam and revolutionary ideology in the region (Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen)
  • Supporting Shia communities and opposition groups in other countries to spread Iran's influence
• Opposing Western influence, particularly that of the United States
  • Rejecting Western cultural, political, and economic dominance to maintain Iran's independence
  • Pursuing an independent foreign policy aligned with Iran's interests rather than bowing to external pressures
• Establishing Iran as a regional power
  • Asserting Iran's leadership role in the Muslim world to counter Sunni Arab states
  • Countering the influence of rival powers, such as Saudi Arabia and Israel, through proxy groups and alliances
• Ensuring the survival and security of the Islamic Republic
  • Protecting Iran's territorial integrity and sovereignty from foreign threats or intervention
  • Countering perceived threats from external actors and internal opposition to preserve the regime

Iran's Regional Relations and Involvement

Iran's relations with regional neighbors

• Iraq
  • Longstanding rivalry and hostility, especially during the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988), which shaped Iran's foreign policy
  • Supporting Shia political parties and militias in post-Saddam Iraq to extend Iran's influence
  • Seeking to limit the influence of the United States and Sunni powers in Iraq to maintain Iran's strategic depth
• Saudi Arabia
  • Ideological and geopolitical rivalry for regional influence between Shia Iran and Sunni Saudi Arabia
  • Competing for leadership in the Islamic world, with each claiming to represent the true Islam
  • Proxy conflicts in various Middle Eastern countries, such as Syria, Yemen, and Lebanon, to undermine the other's interests
• Gulf states (United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait)
  • Tense relations due to Iran's perceived threat to their security and stability as Shia-majority Iran challenges Sunni monarchies
  • Concerns over Iran's nuclear program and its potential to dominate the region militarily and politically
  • Sectarian tensions between Iran and Sunni-ruled Gulf states, with Iran supporting Shia opposition groups

Iran's role in Middle Eastern conflicts

• Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988)
  • Defending against Iraq's invasion and attempting to export the Islamic Revolution to Shia-majority Iraq
  • Engaging in a prolonged and costly war of attrition that demonstrated Iran's resilience
  • Establishing Iran's regional influence despite international isolation and support for Iraq from Gulf states and Western powers
• Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990)
  • Supporting and nurturing the growth of Hezbollah, a Shia militant group and political party, as an Iranian proxy
  • Using Hezbollah to project Iranian influence and counter Western and Israeli interests in Lebanon
  • Providing military, financial, and political support to Hezbollah, which has become a dominant force in Lebanese politics
• Syrian Civil War (2011-present)
  • Supporting the Bashar al-Assad regime against opposition forces to maintain a key Arab ally
  • Deploying Iranian military advisors and Shia militias to fight alongside Syrian government forces
  • Collaborating with Russia to preserve Iran's strategic interests and regional influence in Syria as a conduit to Hezbollah in Lebanon

Iran's support for militant groups

• Hezbollah (Lebanon)
  • Providing extensive financial, military, and political support since its formation in the 1980s during the Lebanese Civil War
  • Using Hezbollah to project Iranian power and influence in Lebanon and the region as a deterrent against Israel
  • Collaborating with Hezbollah to counter Israeli and Western interests and establish an "axis of resistance"
• Hamas (Palestinian Territories)
  • Offering financial and military support, particularly during conflicts with Israel (2008-09 Gaza War, 2014 Gaza War)
  • Using Hamas to challenge Israeli security and Western influence in the Palestinian Territories
  • Exploiting the Palestinian cause to enhance Iran's regional standing and anti-Israel credentials as a champion of the oppressed
• Other Shia militant groups (in Iraq, Syria, Yemen)
  • Supporting and mobilizing Shia militias to advance Iran's interests and counter Sunni influence (Popular Mobilization Forces in Iraq, Houthis in Yemen)
  • Using these groups as proxies to project Iranian power and establish a "Shia crescent" stretching from Iran to the Mediterranean
  • Providing training, weapons, and funding to these militias to wage asymmetric warfare against Iran's regional rivals