The reflection of Iran's grand strategy in the Middle East

Iran has been one of the focal points of global politics due to its geostrategic position as a transit between continents and civilizations throughout history, its ancient culture and its rich underground resources. Iran, which considers itself as the heir of a great civilization, sees itself as a regional power far beyond its national borders due to its geopolitical position and existing potential. Although Iran has experienced a change of regime and axis as a result of the "Islamic Revolution" towards the end of the last century, it has maintained its desire to be the dominant actor in its geography. In the Middle East, where historical rivalries fueled by social, cultural, and religious diversity continue to exert their influence, Iran, one of the region's ancient and central actors, is currently engaged in a power struggle at both the regional and global levels. In order to balance the threats and challenges it faces, Iran has shaped its grand strategy with the goal of protecting and sustaining its national interests, making the most of the opportunities presented by the changes and transformations taking place in the global system. Through its network of alliances with partners that share similar historical experiences and common ideals, Iran strives to extend its regional sphere of influence and national security beyond its borders. This study examines Iran's struggle for existence and influence within the framework of a long-term, multidimensional, and comprehensive "grand strategy." In this context, Iran's efforts to establish spheres of influence through its proxy war doctrine, deterrence strategies based on asymmetric methods, and geopolitical orientations based on ideological and pragmatic motives in the Middle East will be examined in detail. In this theoretical thesis, the reflections of Iran's grand strategy on the Middle East will be examined within a multi-layered strategic framework.