Int. j. econ. manag. soc. sci., Vol(3), No (5), May, 2014. pp.

278-281

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International Journal of Economy, Management and Social Sciences

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Shi'ite geopolitics and Iran's foreign policy

(Investigating Shiite geo politics and Iran's foreign policy in confrontation of two rival i.e. Iran and U.S.A)

Heshmatollah Falahat Pisheh *

PhD. Department of Political Science, University professor, Allameh Tabatabaee University, Iran
Head of Sub-Committee of Foreign Relations at Iranian Parliament (7th8 &.th.terms of Legislature).
*Corresponding author: drfalahatpisheh@yahoo.com

Keywords

Abstract

Shi'ite geopolitics
Iran's foreign policy
Strategies "of U.S.
Great Middle East",
Islamic
Republic of Iran's perspective

The issue of Shi'ite geopolitics and Iran's foreign policy should be studied in the context of two current
competing strategies in the Middle East, namely, Strategies of "U.S.'s Great Middle East strategy and
Islamic Republic of Iran's twenty years perspective".
U.S. Great Middle East Initiative knows the Shiite world as becoming a major threat to an insecure
mechanism terrorist threat , by the claim of that country, Iran is the agent of terrorism in middle east, in
which doesn't tolerate the desirable discipline of designers of that initiative . These arrangements in terms of
strategy are a Israel -based disciplined. Despite the strategies outlined in the plan, such as helping to develop
the political, social, economic development, what is implicit in the design of the Greater Middle East, is that
Israel-based plan comes following the hegemonic order of U.S.A.In contrast, the prospects for the
development of twenty years of the Islamic Republic has been characterized by its influence on regional
developments, targeting first "Iran" in the Middle East., In this perspective, the Shiite is considered as Iran's
strategic depth. Formation of some practical developments has made this contrast more active and tangible.
The practical relations of anti-Zionism/ resistance pattern with Shiite political geopolitics and thought.
Contrasting patterns of Shia and Sunni political systems after the so-called Arab Spring or Islamic Spring
in the Middle East and North Africa. Geopolitical confrontation between Iran and Saudi Arabia in the field
of popular movements aimed at defending their strategic depth. Establishment of a Shiite-majority
government in Iraq. In these conditions , strategies to prevent religious differences , politics in the Islamic
world , to avoid undermining the Iranian strategy of using religious fault lines of American strategy in the
region and to maintain and strengthen the Shiite geopolitical towards developments by using soft and
flexible policies is necessary.

1.

Introduction

Formation of a series of changes in the last twenty years has placed the Middle East, especially the Persian Gulf at the center of conflicts, wars
and even collusion with regional and international actors.In terms of cultural geography, religion, "Islam" and the new wave of aggressive
secularism of West,has provided elements of Samuel Huntington's civilization war. In terms of political geography, the Middle East is the most
retarded region of the world according to democracy, demanding rights and political participation among people on the one hand and democratic
patterns of regional and trans-regional conflict on the other hand, have changed this area into an intact region for political challenge.In terms of
geo-strategic and geo-strategic issues, conflicting regional actors in any change of strategy seek to consolidate and strengthen their position
against competitors. U.S. as the leading power considers this key region as a position to continue their hegemony .Iran and Saudi Arabia in
recent years manage the cold war, Smaller players with serious concern of developments in transition, looking for their future security margin.
And finally, in terms of economic geography, polarity of energy has granted kind of complexities and unique strategic depth to the region
changes.
At the beginning of the third millennium, terrorist attacks of 11'Th September terrorist acted as a catalyst agent for the conflicts and struggles of
this focal region. Though, "George W. Bush" a neoconservative American president in his stated policy, in order to take revenge he brought his
troops to the middle east ,but the fact was that he wanted to complete his father's and some of the radical neoconservative politicians unfinished
plan, in which they tried to achieve 9 year ago. But then a defeat from democratic party, unfinished a plan ,named, American enterprise
,pursuant to that plan, in order to maintain its hegemony after cold war the USA should digest the regional conflicting actors with a series of
military and security measures . Among all the conflicting and interacting positions in middle east what was prominent from the first was the
confrontation between Iran and USA .There are 2 regional and universal powers, in which cumulated their 25 year of conflict ,In this period and
span of time, so that a lot of analysts named thisfinal confrontation as an ultimate challenge. In the American enterprise strategic plan, beginning
with the conquest of Iraq and Afghanistan, Iran is under siege. IN subsequent steps, wings of this regional power is cut in its strategic depth, that
is, Lebanon, Palestine and Syria, so that in the third step and concentrating the action against Iran won't be able to apply a retaliatory action
against Israel,use its strategic depth as a deterrent factor.
2- On the other hand, among different centers of confrontation, Shiite was prominent for some important reasons:
1: The definition of new war as a religious duty by the Bush administration is to announce war against Islamic radicalism in the power spectrum
of what it calls Shia and Sunni. The U.S. government considers Iranian theocracy as a major problem in the Middle East.
2: conditions of political systematization in the occupied countries of Iraq and Afghanistan and to change this era into supporter's competition
and confrontation of Shia and Sunni in new government.
3: The victory of the Lebanese Shiite resistance (the 33 days war) and the Iran's success of the soft ware of the occupied countries systematizing
as the main reason for the establishment of the hegemony of the United States and the political and imposing economic and political costs of
extending the length of the crisis for the USA.

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International Journal of Economy, Management and Social Sciences Vol(3), No (5), May, 2014.

4. Overcoming the gap between religions, democracy movement sin the Arab world in recent years, particularly in Bahrain and Syria. After
eleven years of the greatest military of US-led western powers, the field of battle gets less crowded every year and two conventional rival of
recent 34 years of middle east, namely, Iran and the USA are closer to compete for final competition two regional and universal actors ,in which
in this long span of political aspects have shaped strategies and subsequently in their different policies one of the most challenge-making
interaction between two international actors.
3-Theoretical Foundations:
Currently the world's Muslim population has more than one billion people. Shiite population that is at least has formed about 20 % of the
population of more than two hundred million people.
Historically, however Shiite originated from Arabic countries, particularly Iraq, but quickly extended in IRAN.PAKISTAN, AFGHANISTAN,
SOME PARTS OF INDIA and other younger Islamic countries like LEBANON and AZABAYJAN.
shiism, being a political, religious phenomenon rather than being only religious, shiism was supported by the Iranian in the first century, relying
upon that, they fought with caliphate system. In safavid era people were provoked resistance against Ottoman Empire by its name.
Despite the declineinthe relative position of the Shi'ain Qajarand Pahlavi era, in Iran's1978'sIslamic revolution, the power of spirituality and the
role of religion in political life and indecent yearstheregionwas highlighted by events such as regime change in Iraq, successful wraith Israel in
Lebanon and revolutionary movements in Bahrain and Saudi Shiites, Shi ismhas attracted all the attention again. What ultimately separates it is
having the wisdom in confronting and resisting on one hand, and the power of flexibility on another hand, so it is the most important challenges
of west world. On the other hand, the West isdueto the factthatArabsShiite, thatare keptinpoverty and deprivation by Sunni states, any change
inthe political conditions ofthe countries in thisfield will provide them complete or relative field of their authority. However, the Shiapopulation
ofthe Arab worldis the largest oil region of the Middle East and Persian Gulfoilis located across the Persian Gulf oil main way. Fuller, inhis book
"Arab Shia Muslims, the forgotten Muslim," he writes: "theoretically Arab Shiite can take the oil benefits under control by the help of Iran".
4-The main question:
continuingcrisisin the Middle Eastreflectsconflictingstrategies. Which strategies can analyze this confrontation?
Sub-questions:
One: what is the position of Shiite Geopolitics in this strategic confrontation?
Second: In what way can Shi'a act as a componential strategy to strengthen the IRI plan?
1- The main hypothesis:
Iran's Twenty -year perspective plan and USA's Great Middle East , are the two main conflicting strategies of confrontation and even the
possible interactions and confrontations of regional and global actors in this format is analyzable.
2- Sub- hypotheses:
One: Due to the Great Middle East Initiative of USA considers Shiite radicalism followers of the Islamic Republic of Iran as one of the two
mainstreams of current sponsors and carriers the threat of terrorism in the region. Shiite geopolitics is the main way of confrontation between
Iran and USA.
Second: Considering the dynamics and logic of the Shiite political Islam against Israel, rigidity of Salafism, imperialist spirit of the age and
Israel-based Great Middle East Initiative, aims and interests of Iran and the Shiites in the soft behavioral patterns are met.
3- Materials and Methods:
The analyticalapproachappliedin thepolicyarenaandstrategy-making
Results
Power and realism with idealism and the Shia
The confrontationbetweenthe United States'GreatMiddle Eastand Iran's 20-year strategyconstitutesthe fundamental reality oftheMiddle Eastand
otherguidelines andpoliciesareon the sidelineor across this great competition.
Two: Despite starting the political, military and security intervention of USA and the West in the war against extremism Sunni Salafism, this
power now seeks to use the power of the Sunni geopolitical against Iran as a geopolitical center of Shi'a.
3:In this competition soft strategies provide the benefits and goals of Shi'a geopolitics domain more than hard strategies. Violence,assault, threats
and strategy games are based on American tools of the strategy and interaction, tolerance and play, based on international law
The Great Middle East Initiative has two hidden and clear dimension. Development and democratization in theMuslim world is the apparent and
stated dimension of plan and USA's hegemony consolidation with a focus on Israel'spower and safety in Middle East is hidden,strategic and
undisclosed part of that plan.Despite the change of competition type of USA with renowned powers of east like Russia and China,the western
hegemonic powers seek to control the Middle East within its future strategic domain.so that the rival powers don't have any opportunity to revive
cold war confrontation in this sensitive part of the world.

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Falahat Pisheh *

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International Journal of Economy, Management and Social Sciences Vol(3), No (5), May, 2014.

5: According to misknowledge of thinking school and Sunni's world systems political structure rigidity, and Shi'a's dynamic and modern
societies, clear and political aspect of great Middle East initiative on its strategic dimension is evaluated based on Shi'a's domain goals and
interests.
6: Analysis
One:Beginning of 20 years of strategic challenge
The year 2005Can be considered as simultaneous advent of executing two great strategies of Middle East region.First 20yearsdevelopment of
the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the U.S's Great Middle East Initiative.
The strategic goal of "one -off" in the Middle East for both plans, they inevitably will become the main competitors for regional developments.
Stating the obvious prospect that Iran is in the final year of this programwill be a long term regional power in the Middle East. These should be
clearly classified as superior in all areas of scientific, cultural, political, and economic and defense.
In contrast, nolatitudeGreater Middle EastInitiativerevealeda similar purpose, without clear condition. Continuingtheplanstrategies iswiththe
American modelofdemocracythat afterthatCold Warwason the agenda ofU.S. officials. Other wordsdespite of themethodologicaldifferences
betweenthe Democratic and Republicanparties, toadvancetheUnited States' politicalstrategyfor starting ofthe twenty first century, theycommitted
themselves to this plan. According to the U.S strategyforthetwenty-first century, from anydevice, evenmilitary
meanstopreserveitshegemonypowercan be used.
Two: Alignment with the action plan against Iran, completing unfinished project of Inter- Americanenterprise.
In 1991, by establishing the project "American enterprise", G. Bush introduced Iran as final goal of US's intervention and detrimental actions. In
this way, this project was given to the defense department, after military invasion and setting up their military bases in Iraq and Afghanistan, by
common military action with its regional friends like Israel, they should disconnect the strategic wings of Iran in Palestine, Syria and Lebanon,
and they finally focus on Iran. Various plans against Iran are formed in this style.
Afterthe invasion of Iraq, Bush I waspreventedcontinuation ofthe planbytheRepublicans. But eightyears later, after the failureofdemocracypolicy
by"Bill Clinton" againRepublicansW. Bushcameto power, and by using the catalyst agent of September 11'th they tried to make unfinished
American project practical, so that we can't evaluate this country's war and Israel in Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine, Lebanon and supporting the
aggressive changes in Syria out of Iran and US's strategic confrontation.
SunniGeopoliticalpositioninThe strategic confrontationbetween Iran andU.S.
5-In generalgeopoliticalSunnipolitical actorscan bedistinguishedinthree categories:
A:Arabgovernments andpoliticalauthorities and government official
B: Persian Gulf Cooperation Council at the regional level and Arab League at the international level represent this part of Sunnis geopolitics.
Within the scope of the power, Arab states are amplifiers of American strategy, but these states in the field of policy are the weaknesses of
Americanstrategy, they are in power equations, often members of the "Partnership for Peace" North Atlantic Treaty Organization, "NATO" and
orsignedmilitary and securityagreementswiththeU.S..Saudi is the safetyValve of west countries against political fluctuations of oil and
energydomainand Egypt, till before 2011 revolution was the main barrier of Islamic radical movements against Israel. A role that new
revolutionary government will be faced by the west as a precondition. Sad am was agent to suppress Iran and one reason for his overturning is
that he couldn't do his role well in long term.
In terms of international standards and norms and the principles of the Great Middle East Initiative, the friend governmentsare consideredas the
U.S. regional policy weakness. Strategic alignment duality of the rulers and systems of non- Democrat dichotomy Arab rulers on the one hand
and democracy and political participation of people from the other side made the Great Middle East Initiativecontradictory.
(B) Until the start of the Arab spring,Arab people then in most countries are concerned about democracy. These sections are main audiences of
U.S.'s Great Middle East Initiative and the Islamic revolution pattern and political Islam of Iran. And by more using cyberspace developments in
the region they have become a serious reality in region's changes.
In terms of international standards and norms and the principles of the Greater Middle East Initiative, whenever the issue of the political status of
the Arab nations is considered the friendly states are disadvantage of U.S. regional policies.
C: Radical terrorism, Al Qaeda, the Taliban, armed militias in Iraq and North Africa,Jundullah in the East of Iran and terrorist bombing of the
Trade Towers in New York and in particular the use of suicide bombers in the gap of sovereignty and national security of Islamic countries has
made these complexes as the actual threat of terrorism in the Middle East and North Africa.
In contrast despite of the presentanalysis oftheGreater Middle EastInitiative, thegeopoliticalShiaintellectual, philosophical,ideological
andevenstrategicperspectivedoesn't have such a capacityto shapeandterrorist acts. As an indicator,annualreport ofU.S.State Department,
hasnamed42groups as terrorist, in which 27 out of them are Islamic sects and just Hezbollah is Shi'a.
In a speech on January 27, 2007, President Bush noted: "As we deal with the Sunni insurgents, we should fight with Shiite insurgents, too."
U.S. considers two moderate and radical forces in the region that America wants to confront the militants with the help of themoderates.
According to the Great Middle East Initiative, force or moderate states are ones that have accepted the plan and the requirements of their foreign

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International Journal of Economy, Management and Social Sciences Vol(3), No (5), May, 2014.

policy strategies are set up based on U.S. trans-regional strategy. In fact, a number of Arab countries joining the U.S. anti-Iranian policies in the
context of this invitation took place in the format of this ultimatum-like invitation.
However, further analysis of this relationship is that the United States, due to difference and diversity targets of Shiite groups and different
populations, in different countries could take different policies. Based on this analysis, the Shia minority groups in Arabic countries, have some
political reforming requests, that is supplied in the format of reforming the great Middle East initiative political structure reforming, then by
being close to this population group and help to supply their political and democratic goals,not only make them to modify salafist ofSunni, but
also prevent Shi'a movements exporting and radicalizing by Iran.
Of course this attitude can be affected by special time condition. The former manager of CIA planning Graham fuller was supporter of this
strategy and issued his strategic report in 2003.In this year more than defeating the Taliban, still was in war with Al Qaeda and Taliban in
Afghanistan. At the same time war with Iraq and conquering this country wasfaced very vague situation by Arab Sunniminorities' retaliatory
actions. While some Arab states such as Saudi Arabia, religious leaders and particularlySunni religious schools, continued what the West called
terrorist .But when the relative pass from embankments over Iraq and Afghanistan and Iran 's strategic depthon the borders of Israelleaders and
were on focus of the attacks, anti- Shia policy was strengthened . And conservative and reactionary Arab leaders as supporters of west were
invited in this final battle. In fact, recent changes in the Middle East once again have made active error lines of confrontation between Iran and
the United States active. Origins of this conflict can be traced back to the year 1968AD, when Iran with a revolution which is stimulated by
political Islam, exited from west strategic domain. From that time U.S has wanted to put back Iran in its domain.
From the advent of Iran's Islamic revolution and especially from the imposed war and Iraq's friends against Iran, Iran organized its foreign policy
and defense strategy along the possibility of future confrontation with trans-regional enemies. This feature accompanied with Islamic transnational revolution pattern provided the field for developing Iran's strategic depth.Also disability of "middle east peace plan" in ceasing the
tension between Arabs and Israel gave a reputation to Iran's foreign policy, so that more than Shiite, Sunni people were supporters of Iran policy.
So those like "Valiollah Nasr" and "Francois towal" raised this issue for the United States Iran isover nuclear challenge or potential threat to
Israel. Because managing populations of Muslim people opposed to U.S. hegemonic strategy is done by Iran. This is considered as a strategic
position in which Communist Soviet Union just could achieve it. According to Towal,in a region in which is considered as best political ,energy,
economy and trade geography Iran acts as a Islamic alarm maker and even more than the claim being the Third world spokesman. Graham Fuller
calls,"Iran" as a world's altar. Martin KramerAmerican "anti- Islamic scholar warns referring to the alleged radicalism of the Revolution and
Iranian foreign policy, oriented towards capacity overflow of" Shiite
FawazyGirgis" and "Esposito" believe that Iranian shiism because of cultural dynamics and revolutionary ideology can bear the role of emotions
stimulant, pride of Muslim people. And because of this could get on US nerves.

6. Conclusion
The above research indicates that Islamic law, due to individual and social importance and due to necessities,has exempted certain medical
operations fromresponsibilities regardless of the negative side effects- physical and psychological injuries, even death - of such
operations.Legitimacy of medical treatments and surgical operations, permission of the patient or the guardian, following technical and scientific
guidelines, professional qualification of the doctor, being mindful of relationship between medical operation and possible consequences,
following government regulations including conditions in which medical treatments and surgical operations are exempt from responsibility in
Islamic Punitory law. Urgency is an exceptional case which isvery important and its advent would allows a doctor to by-pass certain general
rules which, under normal circumstances, govern medical and surgical operations.
Islamic Punitory Laws, in contrast to former laws, allows only for those medical operations which are approved by religious principles. As a
result, surgical operations or medical treatments which are considered forbidden in religion, could lead to doctors responsibility and
prosecution. It is necessary and fundamental to mention that surgical operations and medical treatments, dealt by law, are not limited to those
medically necessary ones. For, Islamic Punitory Law, by eliminating the condition of urgency; has subjected justification of surgical operations
and medical actions to their religious legitimacy; necessity or lack of it. It seems appropriate that a judge look at various examples of legitimate
medical operations in religious sources and reliable fatwas.

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