Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, waves as he arrives to deliver a speech in Tehran. Reuters
Scott Peterson, Christian Science Monitor: How Iran, the Mideast's new superpower, is expanding its footprint across the region – and what it means
Iran has achieved milestones of leverage and influence that rival any regional power in the past half-century. While there are limits to how far it can extend its authority, Tehran’s rapid rise poses new challenges to the US, Israel, and Saudi Arabia as it undermines their previous dominance. How far can Tehran extend its reach?
With opulent furnishings and the finest cut-crystal water glasses in Baghdad, the new offices of the Iranian-backed Shiite militia exude money and power – exactly as they are meant to. At one end of the meeting room is a set built for TV interviews, with gilded chairs and an official-looking backdrop of Iraqi and militia flags, lit by an ornate glass chandelier.
A large portrait of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, hangs unapologetically in the next room, signaling that Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba is one of 44 Shiite militias – out of 66 active on Iraq’s front lines – that are loyal to Iran’s leadership.
An article of faith – universally accepted in Baghdad – is that Iran’s immediate intervention in June 2014 stopped the swift advance of Islamic State (ISIS) and “saved” the Iraqi capital, while the United States waffled and delayed responding for months, abandoning Iraq during its hour of need.
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WNU Editor: Iran is on top right now .... but the dynamics on the ground can change quickly and very dramatically. My prediction .... Iran is already stretched, and they are now facing an opposition of Sunni states backed by the U.S. who have publicly voiced their determination to drive Iran out of the region. Israel should also not be ignored .... and I am willing to bet that they are playing a very active role in undermining the Iranians right now. But even with these "problems" .... I predict that the big obstacle for Iran will be on how to keep the peace. Iran is already facing demands from its allies for assistance in reconstruction .... money that I suspect Iran does not really have. Running any "empire" is always expensive, and there is only so much blood and treasure that Iran can afford. In the end .... the Iranians .... like many countries before .... may determine that being a super-power in the Middle East may not be worth it at all.
1 comment:
Yeah especially as Iran's GDP is only ~$400bn lol even with adjusted PPP included that won't bring you far, as best weapons have to be bought in dollars, euro, Rubel or yuan
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