Iran’s Foreign Policy May Put Its National Security At Risk

Understanding the reasons why Iran has chosen to involve itself in regional conflicts is critical to appreciating both the nature of its involvement and the risks it is facing.

by Arash Reisinezhad

Since the attacks in Paris in November 2015, Iran’s role in fighting the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has been unprecedentedly bold. Amidst the raging fires of the Middle East, Tehran’s stability and determination to counter the Salafist and radical Sunni extremists in Syria, Iraq, and even Yemen could move the West to recognize Iran as a regional power. At the same time, however, expansion beyond its borders could also put Iran’s national security at risk. Understanding why Iran has chosen to involve itself in these conflicts is critical to appreciating both the nature of its involvement and the risks it is facing.