The global war on terror, an empowered Iran
The article analyzes how the United States-led 'global war on terror' inadvertently empowered Iran, transforming it from a contained state into a dominant regional power. By toppling hostile regimes in Afghanistan (Taliban) and Iraq (Saddam Hussein), the US eliminated Iran's strategic adversaries and created power vacuums. These events, coupled with the rise of sectarian conflicts and groups like ISIS, allowed Iran to consolidate influence through proxy networks (the 'Axis of Resistance') across Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen, thereby achieving strategic advantages contrary to stated US objectives.
The article analyzes how the United States-led 'global war on terror' inadvertently empowered Iran, transforming it from a contained state into a dominant regional power. By toppling hostile regimes in Afghanistan (Taliban) and Iraq (Saddam Hussein), the US eliminated Iran's strategic adversaries and created power vacuums. These events, coupled with the rise of sectarian conflicts and groups like ISIS, allowed Iran to consolidate influence through proxy networks (the 'Axis of Resistance') across Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen, thereby achieving strategic advantages contrary to stated US objectives.
Exam linkage
GS Paper 2: International Relations
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