Foreign Policy of Iran during Hassan Rohani.

Byline: Muhammad Akram Zaheer

Since the shah's regime, Iran portraits herself as a strategic independent state in the Middle East particularly in Persian Gulf due to her demography, strategic location and resources. Post Islamic revolution Ayatullah Khomeini promoted the idea of strategically independent Iran and efficiently transformed the state from marginalize to assertive and as a geopolitical power in the region.

Tehran washed hand affectionately from the Shah's foreign policy and figure out from the influence of Lebanon and Yemen and as well as Afghanistan and exteriority maintain a balance of power in the region. Islamic Republic Iran prioritize its strategic independence while taking full advantages of her geographical location increase her security and influence in the region and global. It has established its own strategic policy that is contrast to the Shah's strategic policy of gaining US support and guarantees of security in exchange of keeping watch over the Persian Gulf's security on the behalf of US.

Khomeini left Iran far different as he had taken from Shah. It was economically devastated and internationally isolated country. It was the country whose population experienced 50 percent reduction in their real per capita income. The nation was exhausted from the consequences of revolution and war in a single decade.

In July 1989, Ali Akbar Rafsanjani made economic reconstruction his priority and warned his hard line rivals to stop their extremism. the five years plan was for attracting foreign capital, importing technologies, increasing oil revenue and borrowing 27US$ billion on the international market.

He began pursuing rapprochement with West and improving relations with neighbors. This was new posture of Iran after the revolution. These new directions of Iran's foreign Policy were visible very soon in Persian Gulf's Affairs.

"The product of Iran belated recognition that it has little capability to change the region, this policy was based on the calculation that improved relations with all Gulf countries that would increase Iran's chance of regaining its leadership status within the organization of the Petroleum-Exporting Countries in turn allowing Iran to earn higher oil revenues".

Tehran hoped that the new policy would help to contain Iraq and rapprochement with West. Now the champion of radical changes was advocating the regional stability. This was beginning of Iran's major role in Persian Gulf.

The presidential...