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important role in the history of the Middle East as an imperial power. It is
also one of the world's largest natural gas producers.
2) Human factor (demographic). According to analyzes, the population
of Iran will be more than the total population of the Gulf countries in 2030.
As a result, Iran will have the advantage over the other countries.
3) Economic factor. Rich energy resources of Iran are used as an
important factor in her foreign policy. Iran occupies the fourth place in the
world for her oil reserves. Iran is the second largest oil producer after
Saudi Arabia in OPEC. Iran occupies the second place in the world for her
natural gas reserves after Russia [1, p.203].
The foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran is based on the
following elements:
1. The interests of the people,
2. The collapse of the single system,
3. Having an effective role in the new world economy,
4. Identifying the red line between Iran's foreign policy and
international relations,
5. Supporting relations with neighboring countries, in particular with
Iraq, Afghanistan and Arab countries,
6. Carrying on the dialogue on Iran's nuclear program [4, p.140].
The security interests of Iran
With the U.S. occupation of Afghanistan after the events of
September 11, Iran realized that the situation in the region would change
soon. As a result, they were considering their own security interests based
on geopolitical location. There are U.S. and Israeli forces in the West and
in Iraq. There are Pakistan and Afghanistan‘s Taliban in the East. There is
Turkey in the north, which is the member of NATO and cooperates with
Israel.
Let's review Tehran's regional interests in relation with the following
countries.
1) Iraq. Supporting the new Iraqi regime by USA after the occupation
of Iraq in 2003 by financial, political and military aid would limit Iran's
influence in the region.
2) Israel. Israel's alliance with the United States and its opposition to
Iran's nuclear program cause contradictions between them. But Iran is not
going to enter into a direct military conflict with Israel.
3) Pakistan. While Pakistan-Iran relations were good until the 1979
revolution, then the situation had changed. The occupation of Afghanistan,
Pakistan's acquisition of nuclear weapons, and the strengthening of
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cooperation with the United States after the events of September 11 have
spoiled Iran's relations with Pakistan. But Iran considers the protection of
stability in Southeast Asia as its main strategic goal. For example, it cannot
afford supplying natural gas to India without improving relations with
Pakistan. Therefore, Tehran strives to develop relations with these two
former UK colonies.
4) Turkey. Being a member of NATO, the alliance with the United
States and Israel, having vital interests in Central Asia and the South
Caucasus and in the Caspian region causes their targets to collide [5].
Iran’s hypothesis of threat
The Supreme Religious Leader Ayatollah Ali Khomeini states that
the United States does not accept the Islamic Revolution and wants to
overthrow it with the domestic opposition and economic sanctions.
Iranian leaders believe that the United States places its military
bases in the Persian Gulf and its neighboring countries in order to attack it.
Iranian leaders recognize that by helping the Sunni Arab regimes
and movements U.S. creates good conditions for the strengthening of
radical Sunni Islam groups, the terrorist organizations.
The tools of the national security strategy of Iran
1) Assisting the allied regime and groups. Iran is helping her allies,
such as President Basher al-Assad's regime in Syria, Lebanese Hezbollah,
Hamas, and Iraqi Shiites with military aid. Iran helps the Sunni
Palestinians too.
2) Other political activities. Iran's national security is not limited to
military aid to its allies. It also makes direct payments in order to get the
support of neighboring countries. Iran accepts the education programs for
Muslims to study in Iran.
3) Diplomacy. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran and its
representations have an active policy. Iran is one of the states trying to take
part in the international organizations and processes actively.
The National Security Strategy of Iran is based on the six following
foundations:
a. Acceptance and recognition of the Islamic revolution and the
Islamic regime;
b. Guarantees for Iran‘s territorial integrity and security;
c. Extraction of Iran‘s natural resources and conversion to economic
welfare;
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d. ‗Regional hegemony‘ in the sense of influence and veto rights over
occurrences in Iran‘s near environment and in the ‗heart of the Middle
East‘ (Syria, Lebanon, Israel, the Palestinian Authority, etc.);
e. Recognition of its leading international status;
f. Leadership of the Islamic camp [7].
Apparently, the foreign and security policy of the Islamic Republic of
Iran is based on the protection of its national interests, territorial integrity
and sovereignty. It strives to have a leading role in the region and in the
world through its foreign policy. Also, according to the theory of realism,
states are always fighting for power, they want to have a more fundamental
role in the world politics and pursue a proper policy. The security policy
and the national security strategy of the Islamic Republic of Iran reflect
regional hegemony, having important influence in the international
relations and the impact on the processes.
REFERENCES
1. Al-Shboul H.A., Al-Rawashdeh M.S. Iran‘s foreign policy and the
balance of power in the region. Journal of Politics and Law. Vol.6. №4.
2013. pp.200-209
2. Katzman K. Iran‘s foreign and defence policies. Congressional
Research Service. June 2017. pp.61
3. Tarzi A. The Iranian puzzle piece understanding Iran in the global
context. Virginia. 2009. pp.116
4. Westermayr J. Realpolitik in Iran Opportunities and challenges.
Political Science Journal. Vol.28. 2015. pp.138-161
5. Nasseri-Asl M. To obtain or to abstain? Exploring the roots of
Iran‘s nuclear ambitions /http:// web.mit.edu/IGG/iaqfall04nasseri.htm
6.
Rasmussen
K.B.
The
foreign
policy
of
Iran
/http://pure.diis.de/ws/files/57883/DIIS_Brief_The_Foreign_Policy_of_Ira
n_Ideology_and_Pragmatism.pdf
7.http://reutinstitute.org/Data/Uploads/PDFVer/20070618%20%20Ten
sions%20in%20Iran's%20National%20Security%20Strategy_1.pdf
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