Understanding the Resilience of the Islamic Republic of Iran Politique étrangère, Vol. 83, No. 3, Autumn 2018

The leaders of Iran nurture regional ambitions, and are conscious of the limits of their country’s power.

They therefore opt for an indirect strategy, avoiding all direct confrontation with the adversaries of the Islamic Republic. The new American sanctions risk bringing Tehran yet closer to Moscow and Beijing. Those who believe that sporadic demonstrations may evolve into a full-fledged revolution are underestimating the regime’s resilience.

Pierre Pahlavi, is professor and deputy director for research at the Department of Defence Studies of the Canadian Forces College in Toronto.

Article published in Politique étrangère, Vol. 83, No. 3, Autumn 2018