Recent Developments in the Middle East and Iran Economic ‎Sanctions

Beginning from late 2010, the Middle East and North Africa witnessed revolts and street uprising resulting in regime change in countries like Tunisia, Egypt and Libya. A similar chain of change is looming on the horizon in other Arab countries in the region. The cause of these uprisings has been cited to be the high rate of unemployment among the youth, the high rate of inflation and decrease in purchasing power of the families, social injustice and widespread fraud in public sector economy. Now the question is that what is the impact of these developments on tough economic sanctions against Iran? The present article maintains that we can understand the recent developments in the Middle East and its relation with Iran sanctions when we analyze these developments in line with developments in international system and as a part of recent global interactions. The important segments of developments in international system are as follows: the US Grand Strategy on National Security, the 2008 financial crisis, the emergence of new economic powers, the Greater Middle East theory of the United States, the renewable energy action plan and finally the Zionist regime regional role in the future. This study will emphasize that the implication of these developments could result in gradual closure of Iran's economic space in its milieu and in countries of the southern coast of the Persian Gulf in particular. This could be a motivation for Iran to adopt a regional diplomacy and a new regionalism.