THE RANGE IN IRAN'S FOREIGN POLICY TOWARDS THE U.S.: FROM "PRE-EMPTIVE SURREALISM" TO "PREVENTIVE REALISM"

Contrary to President Obama’s stated position in November 2009, it is presumed here that the Islamic Republic intentionally procrastinates normalization of its foreign policy towards the U.S. This intentional delay is due to mutual mistrust existing between the two states. Nonetheless, the Islamic Republic is determined to avoid further confrontation with the U.S. In this respect, the Islamic Republic has devised a mixed foreign policy towards the U.S. In its bid to offset U.S. soft-power pressures on Iran, it implements a surrealist approach to pre-empt U.S. diplomatic efforts. In the meantime, it is concerned about the spiral effects of its surrealist policies. In its attempt to avoid adverse consequences, it implements all realistic measures to prevent U.S. military attack on Iran’s strategic sites. Consequently, the mid-term foreign policy of the Islamic Republic versus the U.S. has a range between pre-emptive surrealism to preventive realism.