Transformation of Iran’s regional policy: the influence of external factors

Abstract

The period after the events of the Arab Spring, which began in 2011, is identified by a large number of disputes and discussions about the regional policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, not only at the level of the Republic itself, but also in the international geopolitical arena. In addition, attention was also paid to the development of a strategic plan for Iran and its role in the region against the background of the fact that Iran, after the Islamic Revolution of 1979, did not lose its relevance in the study of political scientists and related specialists. The purpose of this article is to research and analyze how Iran's strategic plan works and what its role is in the Middle East region since the beginning of 2011. This academic study asserts that regional policy of Iran is a unique blend of ideology and pragmatism that allows Iran to realize its objective as a nation-state in the international system. Iran's regional policy has taken a shift away from fighting the United States in order to maintain its regional position and resist the trend that threatens the resistance. The research followed content analysis methodology and document analysis was done from secondary data. The article concluded that Iran's policy has changed primarily as a result of shifts in regional and international political dynamics. Iran's international balancing laws, which aim to balance international powers against threats, reinforce these significant changes.