Publication:

ირანის ისლამური რესპუბლიკის გეოსტრატეგიული ინტერესები ავღანეთში: იდეოლოგიური და რელიგიური გავლენის ფაქტორები

The ideological and religious factor of Iran has increased especially after the 9/11 events in Afghanistan, which serves its geopolitical interests, it is important for the Iran Islamic Republic to reduce influence of the West in the region, that is why Iran actively uses soft power and hybrid warfare. The Islamic Republic of Iran is actively involved in the military-political processes in Afghanistan, because there are specific threats that are coming from a neighbouring unstable state –Afghanistan: symmetrical threat – which means increasing the influence of the US and the Taliban, as well as an asymmetrical - drug smuggling and undesirable religious ideology (Salafism). Iran's greater strategy has changed due to US peacekeeping operations. In order to protect its core Tehran is trying to create a buffer zone around its borders. Iran's geopolitical and foreign policy will change after US and NATO forces withdraw from Afghanistan, as a predictable result Afghanistan would become more unstable and Iran will no longer be able to continue the double game, as a result Iran will be forced to make a choice to support Afghanistan’s government or Taliban. In this thesis I discuss Iran's foreign policy in Afghanistan and Iran’s strategic approaches. I will also discuss what kind of increasing threats might appear for Middle East, US and NATO in case if Iranian influence in Afghanistan would rise.