@article{article_21113, title={Iran’s Foreign Policy during Ahmadinejad: From Confrontation to Accommodation}, journal={Alternatives: Turkish Journal of International Relations}, volume={9}, pages={1–23}, year={2010}, url={https://izlik.org/JA99RR28RB}, author={Haji-yousefi, Amir M.}, abstract={<p>Some scholars have observed that Iran’s foreign policy has leaned toward assertiveness since Mahmood <br />Ahmadinejad came to power in 2005. They have tried to attribute this assertiveness to some internal and <br />external factors. After reviewing the literature, we argue that the assertiveness of Iran’s foreign policy <br />during the first period of Ahmadinejad`s presidency is rooted in psychological (Ahmadinejad belief <br />system), social (the social base of the new government), political (factional rivalries), historical (ideals of <br />the Islamic Revolution), and external (the way Western countries treated Iran during Khatami) factors. On <br />the contrary, it seems that Iran’s foreign policy since the recent presidential election in 2009 has somehow <br />softened and it appears to be less confrontational. This change, if real, may have significant implications <br />for Iran’s relations with the Western countries, particularly the United States. We seek to identify the main <br />reasons for this change and explicate its main consequences for the Iranian foreign relations. This paper <br />has four sections. First, we discuss the main features of Iran’s assertive foreign policy during the first <br />period of Ahmadinejad`s presidency. Secondly, we try to explain the main origins of this assertiveness. <br />Thirdly, the recent developments in Iran’s foreign policy, especially Ahmadinejad`s new moderate <br />orientation, will be discussed and the main causes will be spelled out. Finally, the main implications of <br />this change in Iran’s foreign behavior will be discussed. </p> <p> <br />Key words: Iran, Foreign Policy, Ahmadinejad, confrontation, accommodation </p>}, number={2}