International Quarterly of Foreign Relations

International Quarterly of Foreign Relations

US Offshore balancing strategy in Middle East and its consequences on Iran

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Majid Abbasi 1
Taher Taheri 2
1 Associate professor of International Relations
2 Graduated master's degree of Middle East and North Africa regional studies from Allameh Tabataba'i University
Abstract
The Middle East region due to its strategic position in the international equations has always been considered in the strategic documents of the United States in accordance with the current developments. In the Cold War era, the Middle East's position in US doctrines and strategic documents affected by the atmosphere of this era was defined on maintaining the America's favorable balance of power, with emphasizing on the role of regional actors and their supportive role. In the post-Cold War era, the strategy of liberal hegemony was first considered. But the failure of this strategy to achieve its predetermined goals, has caused America's reassessment of interests and international threats, avoided focusing on one region or threat within the framework of offshore balancing strategy and making balancing strategic areas such as the Middle East. Accordingly, in the context of balancing strategic areas, the United States has sought to shift east Asia, reduce direct military presence in the Middle East, and manage it through regional actors. Given the complex US strategies in the Middle East to create a new regional order, this main question is arisen that" Shifting Middle East Position in US National Security Strategy Documents since Obama period, what impact will it have on Iran's national security as a regional power? In answer to the main question, the main hypothesis is: "the offshore balancing strategy adoption from US, simultaneity with reduction US direct military presence in middle east region, causes increasing competition between Iran and its other regional allied".
Keywords
US National Security Strategy Documents
offshore balancing
Iran national security
Middle East
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