Iran’s Foreign Policy іn the XХІ Century: Strengthening оf Expansionist Tendencies

Abstract

The study comprises an analysis of the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the twenty-first century. The particular attention is paid to the economic, military and political potential of Iran, the impact of Shiite ideological doctrine on Iranian foreign policy. The article describes the instruments of Iran’s control and influence on the states of the Middle East region (Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Yemen) and political Islamist groups (Iraqi Badr, Qaeda Hezbollah, Hashd al-Shaabi, Lebanese Hezbollah, Palestinian Hamas and Islamic Jihad, Yemeni Houthis, etc.) The study provides the analysis of the effectiveness of Iran’s use of “soft power” methods to spread its influence in Muslim countries. The destabilising role of Iran in the Middle East during the events of the “Arab Spring” was noted.

The article presents a profound analysisof the intensification of Iran’s relations with China and Russia, which have reached the level of strategic partnership as well as  intensified it after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, when the Iran-China-Russia axis took on obvious contours. For the purpose ofpursuing  its expansionist ambitions, the Iranian authorities have sacrificed constructive relations with Ukraine by providing open military assistance to Russia - the use of Iranian weapons (such as Shahed kamikaze drones) is a proven fact. The Iranian regime’s involvement in supporting Russia’s criminal war against Ukraine has resulted in the severance of diplomatic relations between Ukraine and the IRI and the deterioration of Iran’s image in the international arena.

It has been determined that due to the strengthening of its influence in the Middle East, Iran has enhanced its geopolitical weight, but the states under Iranian influence are deprived of internal stability and are experiencing social and economic decline.