Foreign Policies and National Interests of Iran: A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

摘要

Iraq's invasion of Kuwait and the resultant Gulf War of 1991 has focused worldattention on the Middle East. What has been little noticed until recently is the potential real beneficiary of the Gulf War: Iran. Since the death of the Ayatollah Khomeini, founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in June, 1989, Iran has been a nation in search of itself. Watching with renewed interest are the United States and the Persian Gulf nations. The signals from Iran are confusing. A description of Iranian President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani as 'a pragmatic militant,' reflects what has been called Iran's 'two track policy to expand both its political influence and its military power.' Evidence of a pragmatic track includes such positive developments as supporting the coalition forces in the Gulf war against Iraq, helping to free the Western hostages in Lebanon, seeking repproachment with Saudi Arabia and other Muslim nations, and cultivation foreign investments. The revolutionary track, meanwhile, still embraces radical terrorists, seeks programs for nuclear/chemical/biological weapons, opposes Arab-Israeli peace talks, and is funding an expensive military buildup. The Defense Department official implies that Iran will be either revolutionary or pragmatic. A second view, as implied in the 'two track policy' explanation, is that Iran is