Explaining Iran’s Security Strategy on Syria Crisis (2011-2013)

The recent upheavals in the Middle East, especially the Syrian crisis, have created new equations in the region. It seems that this crisis will ultimately affect the strategic axis of Iran, Syria and Hezbollah in the region. The present paper is mainly aimed at answering these key questions: 1) How will the current upheavals in Syria affect the triple axis and also Iran’s national security? 2) What is Iran’s security strategy on the upheaval and how can it be explained? The hypotheses that the present paper addresses are as follows: 1) The interface ring of the strategic triple ring (Syria) will be lost and as a result, the security factor of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the region will be reduced if Asad fails and opponents win the power. Moreover, Iran’s security strategy on this crisis is vigorous support of the Syrian regime that can be explained in the framework of regional balance of threat against the United States and Israel.