Ahmadinejad’s Foreign Policy

Islamic Republic of Iran ’s foreign policy like other states has experienced several eras during its 27 year of Islamic revolution. This is because changing domestic and international situations. We can categorize Iranian foreign policy before president Ahmadinejad into 4 main categories:First, after Islamic revolution, Iran pursued conservative foreign policy. In this era Iran wanted to continue its relations with the world including the west (US and Europe ) in better words Islamic teachings hadn’t been formulized in foreign policy. This short part of Iranian history ended with taking over U.S embassy in Tehran .Second, during 8 year Iraq-Iran war, Iranian foreign policy was idealistic. The main characteristic of this era was pursuing the kind of radicalism and ignoring the world order and society. Most world powers in that time because of helping to saddam were believed as enemy of the Islamic Republic. International organizations especially the UN were supposed to be puppets of great powers.Third, after the War during President Hashemi Rafsanjani’s term of office Iranian foreign policy because of the changing the international situations (collapsing Soviet Union , ending the war, etc) became pragmatic. Rebuilding the country’s war damages and domestic policy of pursing economic growth changed the policy into making good interaction with the outside world. In this era we are witnessing economic oriented foreign policy.Forth, president Khatami pursued détente foreign policy in which dialogue among civilizations and cultural policies were the main guideline for Iranian foreign policy. He tried to make good relations with Europe . In this period of time, Iran differentiates Europe from the United States and tried to become closer to European countries.Iranian foreign policy’s tactics after Khatami changed dramatically. President Ahmadinejad once again revived Islamic idealism in foreign policy.To sum up, deconstruction of Iranian foreign policy, speaking to nations instead of states, making strong relations with South and non-allied countries, clarifying Islamic revolution ideals in foreign aspects, pursing active diplomacy instead of defensive one , rejecting the world order, talking for vulnerable people of the world etc, are the main attributes of Ahmadinejad’s foreign policy which could be seen in all kind of his behaviors.

Iran foreign policy’s slogan in cold war era was “NEITHER EAST NOR THE WEST” but after the cold war it became “NO AMERICA”. Some times Iranian policies have been similar to China or Russia or other countries but it is not necessarily true that we say Iran’s policies are in all aspects realistic because Iran does not rely on Russia or china in it’s policies. In better words Iranian religious oriented foreign policy accidentally resemble to Russia or China. Venezuela is not that powerful to be an ally for Iran. I believe Iran-Venezuela close relations is a symbol through which Iran wants to say to US that one of its neighbors has great relations with your enemy and can be used against you whenewhere necessary.