Institutions and Policy in Iran’s Relations with the GCC

<p dir="ltr">Two overlapping yet distinct sets of developments influence Iran’s position in the Persian Gulf region, one having to do with the Islamic Republic’s own policies and the other with structural factors that are largely beyond the control of policymakers in Tehran. In terms...

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Main Author: Mehran Kamrava (14779603) (author)
Published: 2021
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author Mehran Kamrava (14779603)
author_facet Mehran Kamrava (14779603)
author_role author
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Mehran Kamrava (14779603)
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2021-06-01T06:00:00Z
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv 10.1111/muwo.12403
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Institutions_and_Policy_in_Iran_s_Relations_with_the_GCC/22258606
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv CC BY 4.0
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Human society
Political science
Political Science and International Relations
Sociology and Political Science
Religious studies
History
Iran
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Institutions and Policy in Iran’s Relations with the GCC
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv Text
Journal contribution
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
text
contribution to journal
description <p dir="ltr">Two overlapping yet distinct sets of developments influence Iran’s position in the Persian Gulf region, one having to do with the Islamic Republic’s own policies and the other with structural factors that are largely beyond the control of policymakers in Tehran. In terms of policy, Tehran’s regional relations are shaped by a confluence of security as well as diplomatic priorities. At the broadest level, the resulting policy output amounts to ensuring Iran’s security interests in the Persian Gulf waterway while at the same time maintaining friendly or at best non-confrontational relations with the states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Under the Rouhani administration, this policy was summed up under the rubric of the Hormuz Peace Endeavor, HOPE. But such policy pursuits have been consistently hampered by structural factors both indigenous to Iranian politics and exogenous. Within Iran, the insistence of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), which is responsible for the country’s regional security, to repeatedly demonstrate its military prowess and its battle readiness—through holding exercises, drone attacks, and rhetorical if not actual support for the Yemeni Houthis—heightens the regional security dilemma and only serves to further antagonize the United States and its local allies. At the same time, the newly found military confidence and ambitions of countries such as Saudi Arabia and especially United Arab Emirates, backed by what appeared to have been unconditional American support under the Trump administration and continued arms sales and close military ties during the Biden presidency, further perpetuate threat perceptions in Tehran. From Iran’s perspective, structural factors only serve to undermine its policy objectives.</p><h2>Other Information</h2><p dir="ltr">Published in: The Muslim World<br>License: <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</a><br>See article on publisher's website: <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/muwo.12403" target="_blank">http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/muwo.12403</a></p>
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
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identifier_str_mv 10.1111/muwo.12403
network_acronym_str Manara2
network_name_str Manara2
oai_identifier_str oai:figshare.com:article/22258606
publishDate 2021
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spelling Institutions and Policy in Iran’s Relations with the GCCMehran Kamrava (14779603)Human societyPolitical sciencePolitical Science and International RelationsSociology and Political ScienceReligious studiesHistoryIran<p dir="ltr">Two overlapping yet distinct sets of developments influence Iran’s position in the Persian Gulf region, one having to do with the Islamic Republic’s own policies and the other with structural factors that are largely beyond the control of policymakers in Tehran. In terms of policy, Tehran’s regional relations are shaped by a confluence of security as well as diplomatic priorities. At the broadest level, the resulting policy output amounts to ensuring Iran’s security interests in the Persian Gulf waterway while at the same time maintaining friendly or at best non-confrontational relations with the states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Under the Rouhani administration, this policy was summed up under the rubric of the Hormuz Peace Endeavor, HOPE. But such policy pursuits have been consistently hampered by structural factors both indigenous to Iranian politics and exogenous. Within Iran, the insistence of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), which is responsible for the country’s regional security, to repeatedly demonstrate its military prowess and its battle readiness—through holding exercises, drone attacks, and rhetorical if not actual support for the Yemeni Houthis—heightens the regional security dilemma and only serves to further antagonize the United States and its local allies. At the same time, the newly found military confidence and ambitions of countries such as Saudi Arabia and especially United Arab Emirates, backed by what appeared to have been unconditional American support under the Trump administration and continued arms sales and close military ties during the Biden presidency, further perpetuate threat perceptions in Tehran. From Iran’s perspective, structural factors only serve to undermine its policy objectives.</p><h2>Other Information</h2><p dir="ltr">Published in: The Muslim World<br>License: <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</a><br>See article on publisher's website: <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/muwo.12403" target="_blank">http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/muwo.12403</a></p>2021-06-01T06:00:00ZTextJournal contributioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersiontextcontribution to journal10.1111/muwo.12403https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Institutions_and_Policy_in_Iran_s_Relations_with_the_GCC/22258606CC BY 4.0info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:figshare.com:article/222586062021-06-01T06:00:00Z
spellingShingle Institutions and Policy in Iran’s Relations with the GCC
Mehran Kamrava (14779603)
Human society
Political science
Political Science and International Relations
Sociology and Political Science
Religious studies
History
Iran
status_str publishedVersion
title Institutions and Policy in Iran’s Relations with the GCC
title_full Institutions and Policy in Iran’s Relations with the GCC
title_fullStr Institutions and Policy in Iran’s Relations with the GCC
title_full_unstemmed Institutions and Policy in Iran’s Relations with the GCC
title_short Institutions and Policy in Iran’s Relations with the GCC
title_sort Institutions and Policy in Iran’s Relations with the GCC
topic Human society
Political science
Political Science and International Relations
Sociology and Political Science
Religious studies
History
Iran