Iran, the second-largest country in the Middle East, is a multi-ethnic Islamic theocracy with the ultimate decision maker being the country's prime religious authority, its Supreme Leader. It infuses elements of democracy, such as an elected president. With one of the longest and storied histories of civilization, the current Islamic Republic of Iran was established by Ruhollah Khomeini in 1979 following the Islamic Revolution. Kohmeini became Iran's first Supreme Leader.
Iran is considered authoritarian in its suppression of rights for women and children and the violent squandering of opposing political protests.
Strategically located between the water bodies of the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and the Caspian sea, it is bordered by key middle-eastern players, such as Turkey, Afghanistan and Iraq.
Iran holds the world's second-largest natural gas supply as well as a massive oil reserve, a key element often discussed in its role in international relations and political leverage.
Before 1979, Iran maintained friendly relations with Israel via pro-Western leader Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. However, after the Islamic Revolution, Iran severed all ties with Israel and by the 1990s relations turned hostile.
Iran has escalated its nuclear technology development over the years while also funding and supporting Islamic-extremist proxy groups much closer to Israel, such as Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) and Hezbollah.
Why is there growing concern in the security establishment about the new regime in Syria if it's blocking Iranian weapons shipments?
The rial’s stronger value in 2015 during Iran’s nuclear deal, when it traded at 32,000 to the dollar, contrasts sharply with today’s conditions.
The goal of comments made by Iran's FM is to try to quietly influence the other countries at the D-8, especially Egypt.
"The Islamic Republic doesn’t have proxy forces. Yemen fights due to their faith. Hezbollah, Hamas, and Islamic Jihad fight because their beliefs compel them to do so,” Khamenei said.
The report cited multiple reasons for the situation, among which were the sanctions imposed on the Islamic Republic and Israel's strike on Iran.
According to a Sunday morning Kan Radio report, Israeli officials have urged Egypt to bolster its security forces to counter these threats.
Two indicted for Hezbollah spying • Hamas official reportedly killed in Jabalya strike • Katz: If Hezbollah does not retreat beyond Litani, we will crush it
A pattern of incidents in Sweden, Belgium, and Norway has exposed a campaign by Tehran to expand its proxy war against Israel into European territories.
In an interview with 'Asharq Al-Awsat', Ahmed al-Sharaa said that the revolution in Syria ended with Assad's fall and that he did not want it to destabilize the Arab world.
Recent strikes into central Israel hint that Iran has refined its attack strategy, leveraging both direct launches and supplying missiles to Yemen's Houthis.
JPOST Digital Library
