Iran's Foreign Policy towards the Occupied Iraq: 2003-2005

Since its independence, Iraq has, for a variety of reasons, remained one of the major concerns of Iran’s foreign policy, as the Iraqi developments affect Iran’s security easily and rapidly. This research seeks to demonstrate that U.S. occupation of Iraq in 2003 has made Iran’s foreign policy towards Iraq subject to and a function of Iranian foreign policy towards the United States. On this basis, Iran adopted a cautious policy towards the Iraqi developments, which aimed at restoring order and stability in the country while mobilizing the Iraqi Shia in order to obtain a fair share of political power in the county. The author argues that due to U.S. political mistakes, increasing Iraqi resistance to the occupation as well as close ties with the Shia political organizations, Iran has succeeded in attaining its objectives to a large extent. Therefore, the major outcome of the occupation of Iraq has been weakening U.S. hegemony in the Middle East and more importantly significant expansion of Iran’s influence in the region.