The global war on terror, an empowered Iran
This analysis argues that U.S. military interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan inadvertently strengthened Iran's regional influence by removing its primary strategic rivals. It suggests that the resulting power vacuums and proxy conflicts allowed Iran to emerge as a dominant regional power broker.
Why it matters
It provides a critical perspective on the unintended geopolitical consequences of the U.S.-led global war on terror in the Middle East.
As West Asia remains mired in conflict, it is worth examining how the United States-led global war on terror inadvertently emboldened Iran, elevating it to a regional power that is now capable of confronting the U.S. in the ongoing conflict.
Prior to 2001, Iran faced strategic containment from two hostile regimes: the Taliban in Afghanistan and Saddam Hussein’s Iraq. U.S. invasions toppled both governments, eliminating Iran’s most dangerous neighbours. The new governments in both countries proved friendlier to Tehran. In Iraq, the fall of the Sunni regime led to a Shia-led government with deep ties to Iran, transforming an enemy into a strategic partner. According to analysts, Iran had surpassed the U.S. as the most influential power in Iraq, significantly improving its strategic position.
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