The role of religion in Iranian foreign policy as a soft power in the Middle East

Middle East lies in a geopolitical area which has gained attraction of the regional and the global powers throughout the history. This region is the connecting bridge between Asia, Europe and Africa, which encompasses different nationalities and religions and till today it has been politically unstable mainly because of direct and indirect religious conflicts. After Islam and its division into two main sub groups by the name of Sunni and Shia, this process continued and till today competition between the two groups Sunnis and Shias has been carried on in the Middle East. Iran Islamic Revolution happened as a remarkable evolution in the Shia-centric community of Iran and after that the leaders of Iran did not focus only in their internal affairs, but rather shifted their concentration on regional politics, particularly through Shia Revolutionists in order to play a considerably active role in the Middle Eastern region. Iran got an active position in the world, especially in the Middle East, after the revolution as a Shia-centric community. Different educational, cultural and political activities of Iran outside its borders are clear examples of Iran's international actions after the revolution. This thesis is based on the research regarding the methods and approachs that Iran has used to expand its borders and influence in the Middle East. It also investigates the elements and factors which Iran has used to have influence over the Middle East. The main objective of this thesis is to investigate and search on foreign politics of Iran and the usage of religion as a soft power in the Middle East. In this essay the religious factors of Iranian politics would be researched and the way it is used. In addition to these, this essay would research about the political and cultural opposition between Iran and other countries in the Middle East. After investigating about the usage of religious factors of Iran in the Middle East, the role of Iran as a regional power and a pro-Shia in the Middle East will be discussed. It will be clarified how Iran has used the Shia factor as a tool in order to reach its political and cultural aims in the Middle East. Keywords: Religion, Revolution, Cultural Struggle, Shia, Soft power, Middle East