Publication

This paper examines the grand strategy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in an international context. The author argues that Iranian officials have been hopeful about influencing the behavior of great powers through the use of such techniques as diplomacy, terrorism, economic statecraft, cultural diplomacy and propaganda. The old strategy, which sought the survival of an indigenous nuclear program and the hope of gaining tacit US support for a limited level of enrichment in return for Iran’s good behavior in Iraq and Afghanistan, is contrasted with Iran's new strategy aimed at improving the country’s relations with Russia, China, India and Pakistan in order to form a regional bloc against the US.