Iran and the New Iraq: Challenges and Opportunities

Subject Areas : Journal of Law and Politics

کیهان  Barzegar ¹ (ندارد)

Received: 2015-02-21 Accepted : 2015-02-21 Published : 2005-01-20

Keywords: New Iraq, Iranian National Interests, Foreign&#x0D, &#x0D, Policy, Regional Security, Security Threat, Ethnic Rivalry,

Abstract :

Considering the developments taking place in Iraq andthe imminent installing of a new government in the country, theauthor, in this article, seeks to explore the opportunities andchallenges of the aforementioned situation to the Iranian nationalinterests. The main question of the research involves that whatkind of government in Baghdad would secure the Iranian nationalinterests, as the fact that Iraq has persistently represented andwill be a strategic rival and a security threat to Iran. This articleis organized in three sections. In the first section, the authorexposes the Iranian general views toward the Arab world andIraq in particular. The second and third sections observe the constants in the Iranian-Iraqi relations and pays attention to thechallenges ahead. Finally, the author undertakes that Iran andthe new Iraq are able to divert their relations from the stage ofcontinued conflicts and threatening each other’s interests anddirect them toward a constructive rivalry and cooperation withinthe framework of common interests. This will largely depend onthe first step to be taken by the new Iraqi government.