Iran’s Security Strategy: Balancing Defensive Deterrents and Offensive Proxy Warfare

Year 2024, Volume: 14 Issue: 2, 303 - 319, 31.12.2024

Melih Kazdal

https://doi.org/10.31679/adamakademi.1573096

Abstract

The objective of this study is to ascertain how proxy warfare is integrated into Iran’s security strategy. The argument is based on an analysis of Iran’s security approach, which rests on three main pillars: its ballistic missile arsenal, nuclear program, and reliance on proxy warfare. While the first two is predominantly defensive in nature, the use of proxy warfare includes offensive or forward defense elements. Iran has actively engaged in various conflicts in the Middle East through the use of proxies. The deployment of proxy groups allows Iran to exert influence over conflicts while maintaining distance and pursuing its own objectives. Consequently, proxy warfare reinforces the other two pillars. Moreover, historically the three pillars of Iran’s security strategy can be traced back to the era of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. This reveals that there is a continuity in Iran’s security policies despite the alteration and transformation caused by the 1979 Islamic Revolution. This contiunity contributes to the formation of long term political patterns that increase the effectiveness of the the three pillars of the security strategy mentioned in the study.

Keywords

Security strategy, Proxy war, Iran, Ballistic missile arsenal, Nuclear programme

İran’ın Güvenlik Stratejisi: Savunmacı Caydırıcılar ve Saldırgan Vekâlet Savaşının Dengelenmesi

Abstract

Bu çalışmanın amacı, İran’ın güvenlik stratejisine vekalet savaşının nasıl entegre edildiğini tespit etmektir. Çalışmanın temel argümanı, İran’ın güvenlik stratejisinin üç temel sacayağına sahip olduğudur: Balistik füze cephaneliği, nükleer program ve vekâlet savaşı kullanımı. İlk iki unsur doğası gereği daha çok savunmacı özellik taşırken, vekâlet savaşı saldırgan ve/ya ileri savunma bileşenlerini içermektedir. İran, vekil grupları aracılığıyla Ortadoğu’daki birçok çatışma noktasına aktif bir şekilde müdahale etmektedir. Vekil grupların konuşlandırılması, İran’ın mesafeyi koruyarak ve kendi hedeflerini takip ederek çatışmalar üzerinde nüfuz sahibi olmasını sağlamaktadır. Sonuç olarak, vekâlet savaşı bu üçlü stratejinin diğer iki unsurunu da güçlendirmektedir. Ayrıca tarihsel açıdan bakıldığında, İran’ın güvenlik stratejisindeki bu üç unsurun kökleri Şah Muhammed Rıza Pehlevi dönemine kadar uzanmaktadır. Bu durum İran’ın güvenlik politikalarında 1979 İslam Devrimi’nin neden olduğu değişim ve dönüşüme rağmen bir sürekliliğin olduğunu ortaya koymaktadır. Bu süreklilik, çalışmada bahsedilen güvenlik stratejisindeki üç sütunun etkinliğini arttıran uzun süreli politik kalıpların oluşmasına katkıda bulunmaktadır.

Keywords

Güvenlik stratejisi, Vekâlet savaşı, İran, Balistik füze cephaneliği, Nükleer program

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