The Gray Zone of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Deterrence Challenges of the United States of America

The main purpose of this study is to achieve a kind of theoretical and analytical framework to explain the developments in the Middle East. The question that arises in this study is why the US deterrence in the Middle East is not effective enough to meet the challenge of the Islamic Republic of Iran? The method of this research is based on two steps; In the first step, an analytical-theoretical model is presented for the invasions of the gray zone. In the second step, using empirical data and events, the challenge of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the deterrent efficiency of the United States in the Middle East are evaluated and analyzed. According to this research hypothesis, the changes in the international system after the events of the collapse of the Soviet Union and the attacks of September 11, 2001 have led to changes in the geopolitical and security structures of the Middle East. US intervention in the region has added to the complexity of the region's structure and ultimately led to the formation of a gray zone. As a result, the Islamic Republic of Iran in the Middle East has challenged the deterrence of the United States.