Have US policies served Iran's interests in the region?
Tuesday 12/March/2019 - 01:22 PM
Mohamed Abdel Ghaffar,
Iran introduced tremendous change to its internal and foreign policies following the 1979 Islamic revolution in it.
Nonetheless,
the revolution which ended the monarchy and opened the door for the
establishment of a republic also opened the door for theocratic rule in the
country. This rule aims first and foremost to protect the rule of the mullahs
in Iran, in general, and the supreme guide, particular.
The Iranian revolution strives to export its principles to other countries with the aim of establishing a religious empire. This serves Iran's mullahs' dream of founding a far-flung state under their rule.
Khomeini
Ruhollah Khomeini used this idea as an excuse in his showdown with other countries and also to justify his sectarian project. Iran plants its own militia wherever there is a desire for curbing its regional influence and sabotaging this project. Khomeini used to believe that this strategy would protect Iran from the inside.
Article no. 154 of the Iranian constitution commits the Iranian government to establishing governments of right and justice everywhere. The constitution also commits Tehran to backing the weak against colonization everywhere in the world.
The Iranian political system moved through a number of phases, the first being between 1979 and 1989 when Iran was preoccupied with the First Gulf War as well as with the international blockade imposed on it. During these years, the Islamic Revolution showed its ugly face by getting rid of all liberal forces in the Iranian society.
The second phase extends from 1990 to 2002. During this phase, Iran succeeded in making a number of internal and external gains. It did this by taking a neutral stance in the Second Gulf War and considerable reforms introduced by the former Iranian president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.
These policies improved Iran's relations with a number of Arab states. Iran exchanged ambassadors with these states and also improved its relations with European countries.
The third phase of the evolution of the Iranian political system fell between 2003 and 205 when Iran devoted the bulk of its action to interference in the internal affairs of Arab states after the downfall of Baghdad and the occupation of Afghanistan. Iran also focused on its nuclear program. It, meanwhile, maintained stable relations with the United States, thanks to its support to the American occupation of Iraq.
Obama
Iran continues to use the ramifications of this phase until the present. The US played a role also backing Iran, whether it liked it or not. Washington's occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan led to the destruction of the two states. This helped Iran get rid of its main two rivals in its vicinity.
Tehran also used the Arab Spring revolutions in advancing its interests in the region. It backed the Houthi militia in Yemen and increased its backing to Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The striking thing still is that the US made moves over the years that only served Iran's interests.
