Iran’s Grand Strategy in the Middle East: A Case Study Of Yemen

Considering the events that preceded the toppling of Mosaddeq and the eventual Islamic Revolution, Iran’s foreign policy has shifted from engagement to assertiveness. The perception of hostility and threat to the survival of regime became the defining framework for the pursuit of the grand strategy of Iran in the Middle East and in response to the rest of world. Thus, nuclear capability, spread of Islamic revolution and expansionist geopolitical influence became the strategy for its regime security. The involvement of Iran in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Bahrain have been largely captured by several literatures. Therefore, the research seeks to understand how Iran articulates its grand strategy in the Middle East as well as unpack the United States of America-Saudi Arabia-Iran triangle in the Yemeni crisis. Largely the study utilized qualitative discourse to unravel why and how Iran applies its grand strategy in Yemen as a case study. By and large, Iran’s strategy in Yemen does not differ that much from those of Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon. It is a strategic and comprehensive goal to achieve its expansive national interest and maintain hegemonic influence in the Middle East. The study recommends that both state actors and non-state actors in Yemen should consider a political resolution than ongoing military confrontation, the policy makers in Iran and Saudi Arabia should allow Yemenis to solve their internal problems without interference. Finally, Yemenis are facing humanitarian challenges in a dire situation, the international organizations should sanction both Iran and Saudi Arabia for their aggression.