Determinants and objectives of Iranian foreign policy in the Middle East

The origin of the name “Middle East” goes back to the colonial powers, and since the meaning of this name is still controversial, the definitions that were given to this term also differed, which varied in defining the geographical area included within it despite its widespread use, but it often includes Arab countries, Iran, Turkey and Israel .
In general, Iranian leaders believe that the history of their country, its strategic geographical location, its human capital, and its resources oblige it to play an important role in shaping the region because it is unstable and vulnerable to the interventions of foreign powers, and therefore the regional balance of power must be in its favour, otherwise its survival and territorial integrity will be in danger.
The regions of the Arabian Gulf and the Fertile Crescent are of particular importance in Iran's regional strategy. The Gulf region, in addition to its geographical and strategic importance, is of great economic importance, due to its vast wealth of oil and natural gas, and Iran aspires to become the main power in it.
As for the "Fertile Crescent" region, it is the region that includes Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Palestine. This region has received great attention in Iranian foreign policy since ancient times. It was an area for the expansion of ancient Persian empires, as it has received interest in modern times. Besides the economic importance, there are strategic and political reasons. It is Iran's path to the Mediterranean, which guarantees it great strategic depth, and demographic reasons represented in the presence of a large number of minorities whose presence can be exploited to create a balance with the Sunni Arab bloc.