IR research

The Iranian Islamic revolution of 1979 has given the world a new dimension of international relations among the western hemisphere and the newly formed Islamic republic. Since then, the world has witnessed a profound hostility to the claimed anti-democratic regime which was reflected through a variety of economic sanctions imposed to the Islamic regime. Economic sanctions were due to Iran’s nuclear program and the concern that the Islamic republic is up to produce nuclear weapons. In fact, this is untrue due to Islamic teachings that restrict the production of nuclear weapons as Khomeini proclaimed and Khamenei assured. Nevertheless, international sanctions have battered the Iranian economy and left the country to survive dependently in the international arena. Iran lives in self-help system since its Islamic revolution as major countries decided to abandon them. In order to survive in the self-help system states must develop and produce what is necessary to defend themselves in the anarchic nature. Actually, Iran’s foreign policy has changed tremendously after the revolution to reflect a pragmatic one driven by realist approach of the international system, where they had no other choice in order to survive unless to do so. Unexpectedly, Iran did survive due to its absolute commitment to the realistic approach. However, with the united states changing its views about the nuclear deal within different administrations, recently with president trump’s new sanctions and withdraw from the nuclear deal, it is then more clear that the Islamic regime can never trust other states in the anarchic system. Sates are afraid that Iranians would someday bear nuclear weapons, but what if they really have nuclear weapons? How would that change the world’s attitude to the Islamic republic? And how powerful would that make them? It is all about power and security, thus the production of nuclear weapons is necessary for Iran to prevent western hemisphere’s manipulation and intervention in their own sovereignty.