Analysis: Arab Spring Seen From Tehran

President and Founder of the National Iranian American Council Trita Parsi and Research Director Reza Marashi write about how Iran views the Arab Spring “as a challenge not only to the status quo powers investing in an order that suppresses the streets, but also the powers that claim to champion them.”  Both Parsi and Marashi argue that Tehran’s decision-makers are more concerned with winning over the soft power of the region in an effort to consolidate the Islamic Republic as the regional power.  Iran’s strategy include, improving ties with regional neighbors and key Islamic countries such as, Turkey and Saudi Arabia as Iran attempts to gain influence in Iraq, Lebanon and Palestine.  In addition, Iran plans to plans to consolidate its power by producing indigenous technical capabilities with its nuclear program and by “standing up to the West” though refusing cooperation on the nuclear program.

According to Parsi and Marashi, Iran is starting to gain influence by improving ties with Egypt and has managed its :working relationship” with most in the Muslim World. “ Because the primary concern for decision-makers in Tehran is regime survival, they fear the unpredictable consequences of proactive decision-making at home and abroad.” Parsi and Marashi argue that because Iran has it’s own internal problems with its lack of stability, specifically among political elites, it will likely benefit the most from the continued unrest in the region.

In addition, Iran’s continued human rights violations continue to be an issue within the country.  Mehdi Khazali, Iranian blogger has been arrested for the third time in the last two years for his criticism of the Iranian establishment and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.  Maryam Bahreman, a women’s rights activist, is still in detention despite orders from the Prosecutor’s office in Shiraz to release her in July.   According to Amnesty International, Bahreman is a “prisoner of conscience” because she spoke her mind.