Iran’s concerns have been widely followed and debated at the international as well as at regional levels. The Islamic Republic of Iran possesses the capability of Geopolitical, Ideological, and military power in the Middle Eastern region and it employs these capabilities to manipulate ongoing and forthcoming events in accordance with its geopolitical calculations.

Iran’s foreign policy is driven by a blend of revolutionary ideology, regional security concerns, and ambitions for Middle Eastern hegemony.

The basis of the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic is resistance and détente; the latter is grounded in a combination of ideas, history, and self-interest. The following analysis focuses on the centripetal, compartmentalized, and lateral approach of Iran’s foreign policy in the Middle East.

This paper argues that Iran has a clear set of goals and rationality guiding the formulation of its foreign policies, which reflect its historical experience and ideological predispositions. The change of turning point came with the 1979 Islamic Revolution, which overthrew the Shah’s monarchy and brought a new revolutionized religious rule. The revolution provided the Iranian foreign policy to spread its Islamic revolution, fighting Western imperialism, and the presence of Israel in the Middle East.

This revolutionary fervor made Iran an advocate for the ‘resistance’ against what Tehran considers new imperialism embodied by the West, and Zionism specifically. The pattern of Operation Paykan is too complex to illustrate a mere resistance mentality that is pervasive in Iran’s foreign policy paradigm. Tehran supports movements and states against the policies and actions of the United States and Israel, so it calls itself the leader of the so-called Axis of Resistance.

This ideological position has continued to see Iran backing groups including Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Palestine, and Houthi in Yemen. These alliances enable Iran to expand its sphere of influence provided that its revolutionary outlook and determination to eradicate the perceived oppression of the oppressed across the Middle Eastern countries.

The objectives that form the basis of Iran’s foreign policy include; security, hegemony in the Middle East, and economic factors. First and foremost, in Iran’s perception of threat, there is the aim and desire to maintain its independence and its borders. This objective arises from the past doubt of external interference, owing to incidences such as the overthrow of PM Mossadeq in 1953 by the CIA and the enduring Iran-Iraq war which lasted eight years (1980-1988). These have created a culture of defense and the resolve to counter threats posed by regional foes and other powers.

Support for the ‘Axis of Resistance’ reflects Iran’s geopolitical strategy, backing groups like Hezbollah, Hamas, and Houthis.

It is also very important that the country sets itself a fourth standard of becoming a regional power and to do so it needs to become a powerful military force. Its geographical structure and resource endowment raise Iran as a natural contender for the leadership of the region.

Tehran deploys political, military, and soft power relationships to confront its antagonists, including Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Israel. This fighting has been particularly a battle for supremacy in the Persian Gulf region complicated by the sectarian differences between Iran’s Shia population and Saudi’s Sunni royalty.

Iran also values its economic power especially due to the emergence of sanctions as well as political isolationism. It has tried to avoid the military constraints caused by economic considerations by forging closer links with other world powers such as China and Russia alongside engaging in RTA and energy deals with its neighbors. The foreign policies are usually more economic and geopolitical where it aligns its resources and overtones power status over important shipping lanes such as the Strait of Hormuz.

Mainly in Syria, Iran is the only country that has supported Bashar al-Assad since the civil war started in 2011. Tehran sees Assad as the guarantor of its strategic Shi’ite corridor to Hezbollah in Lebanon known as the “Shia Crescent”. The help Iran has provided for Assad includes money, advisers, and training and mobilization of armed militias including Hezbollah. This has helped to cement the Islamic Republic of Iran’s involvement in Syria but has elicited increased international scrutiny for worsening the plight of refugees.

Iran’s involvement in Syria and Yemen faces international criticism for prolonging conflicts and human suffering.

Yemen can also be mentioned as a theater of Iran’s activities. It has been alleged that Iran Tehran has supplied the Houthi insurgents with equipment and supplies in their conflict with the Saudi-engineered coalition. Although the Iran involvement in Yemen seems less intense compared to Iraq and Syria it is a way of exerting some kind of pressure on Saudi Arabia and asserting dominance in the Arabian Peninsula.

The Iranian-Lebanese relations have been greatly influenced by the partnership between Iran and the Shia militant organization and political party Hezbollah. Due to the concept of hegemonic stability theory where Hezbollah poses a strong force in Lebanon’s political and military system, Iran continues to powerful press over Israel and influence in the Levant.

They are going through multiple challenges and criticism in their destination in the Middle East region in their foreign policy. The country has claimed the support of proxy groups and militant organizations, criticism of sowing seeds of insecurity and promoting sectarianism. Kofi Annan also criticized its role in Syria and Yemen, for protracting human suffering by standing on the side of factions that have caused violence against civilians.

At home, the country’s spending on foreign policy has raised concern among some factions of the society. Most of the Iranians condemn the government due to its focus on the expansion of the uninterrupted regional policy to its disadvantage neglecting economic and societal problems within its country. The quarry of international sanctions as well as the expenses of holding foreign allies have also added to it.

In relation to the international environment, Iran’s foreign policy has put it on the opposite side of the United States and its allies in the region; KSA and Israel. International pressure in the form of sanctions, and diplomatic exclusion started when the United States tried to contain Iran, while brief and occasional aggressive interactions such as the killing of General Qassem Soleimani in 2020 show the destabilization of its regional function.

Iran has had a multidimensional policy towards the Middle East which majorly consists of ideology, strategic, and realistic components. Its support for “the Axis of Resistance” could therefore be deemed as part of its revolutionary credo, but its behavior is sparked to a significant extent by considerations of security and power.

Economic challenges and domestic dissent question Iran’s focus on external alliances over internal development and stability.

Consequently, due to its comprehensive participation in regional conflicts and partnerships, IRAM has become a decisive factor in the formation of the Middle Eastern geophysical environment. Nonetheless, having an impact on domestic and global affairs, the costs and outcomes of its policies remain subject to discussions regarding the prospects of sustainable and efficient performance.

Thus, as the Middle East continues to experience changes this nation’s foreign policy will certainly continue to attract attention at the international and regional levels.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not represent the views, beliefs, or policies of the Stratheia.