Theoretical and Practical Challenges Facing the Islamic Republic of Iran's Foreign Policy

The Islamic Revolution in 1979 was, in fact, the expression of national sentiments and continuous efforts of Iranian people pursued since the 19th century for emancipation on from foreign domination. Efforts such as trying to find a third force in the era of Nasser-Aldin Shah, struggling for independence during the Constitutional Revolution, and making attempts for creating a negative equilibrium in the era of oil nationalization movement, all aimed at the emancipation from foreign domination. However, after the Islamic Revolution, Western-oriented policies and the alliance with the U.S. were replaced with the neither East nor West slogan. Iranian people who relied upon their revolutionary zeal set aside every conservative tendency and took on an offensive stance. Meanwhile this policy was combined with supporting other Muslim nations along the line of the necessity of preserving the Islamic unity. Today, after 30 years from the victory of the Islamic Revolution, there is a pressing need for studying the past policies and imaginatively about the future courses of action.