Editing Foreign relations of Iran (section)

===Isolation, sanctions, and global ambitions===
[[File:Swedish PM Stefan Löfven meeting Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei 04.jpg|thumb|[[Ali Khamenei]] with Swedish Prime Minister [[Stefan Löfven]], 11 February 2017]]
Iran seeks new allies around the world due to its increasing political and economic isolation in the international community.<ref>Fredrik Dahl, [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-revolution-cleric-idUSTRE5833FV20090904 "Iran cleric says ''time to export the revolution''"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016110628/http://www.reuters.com/article/2009/09/04/us-iran-revolution-cleric-idUSTRE5833FV20090904 |date=16 October 2015}}, "Reuters", 4 September 2009</ref><ref>[http://bigthink.com/ideas/41772 "Iran Seeks Allies in South America"] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120710083109/http://bigthink.com/ideas/41772 |date=10 July 2012}}, 2 January 2012</ref> This isolation is evident in the various economic sanctions and the EU oil embargo that have been implemented in response to questions that have been raised over the [[Iranian nuclear program]].<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-16674660 "EU Iran sanctions: Ministers adopt Iran oil imports ban"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011231029/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-16674660 |date=11 October 2018}}, "BBC News", 23 January 2012</ref>

Tehran supports the Interim Governing Council in [[Iraq]], but it strongly advocates a prompt and full transfer of state authority to the Iraqi people. Iran hopes for stabilization in [[Afghanistan]] and supports the reconstruction effort so that the [[Afghan refugees]] in Iran (which number approximately 2.5&nbsp;million.<ref>[[Afghan Refugees]] in Iran, "[http://www.cmi.no/afghanistan/peacebuilding/docs/CMI-PRIO-AfghanRefugeesInIran.pdf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303171448/http://www.cmi.no/afghanistan/peacebuilding/docs/CMI-PRIO-AfghanRefugeesInIran.pdf|date=3 March 2016}}", International Peace Research Institute, Oslo, 16 June 2004. Retrieved 29 April 2007.</ref>) can return to their homeland and the flow of drugs from Afghanistan can be stemmed. Iran is also pursuing a policy of stabilization and cooperation with the countries of the [[Caucasus]] and Central Asia, whereby it is seeking to capitalise on its central location to establish itself as the political and economic hub of the region.

On the international scene, it has been argued by some that Iran has become, or will become in the near future, a superpower due to its ability to influence international events. Others, such as [[Robert Baer]], have argued that Iran is already an [[energy superpower]] and is on its way to becoming an empire. [[Flynt Leverett]] calls Iran a rising power that might well become a nuclear power in coming years—if the US does not prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear technology, as part of a grand bargain under which Iran would cease its nuclear activities in exchange for a guarantee of its borders by the US.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tcf.org/publications/internationalaffairs/leverett_diplomatic.pdf |title=Dealing with Tehran: Assessing U.S. Diplomatic Options toward Iran |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101011171353/http://www.tcf.org/publications/internationalaffairs/leverett_diplomatic.pdf |archive-date=11 October 2010 |access-date=13 February 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Robert Baer|title=The Devil We Know: Dealing with the New Iranian Superpower|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UPUUL2HgwooC|access-date=14 August 2013|date=30 September 2008|publisher=Crown Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-307-44978-8|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904071537/https://books.google.com/books?id=UPUUL2HgwooC|archive-date=4 September 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/meeting-the-growing-threat-of-iran/| work=CBS News| title=Meeting The Growing Threat of Iran| date=15 February 2009| access-date=4 April 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101111230631/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/02/15/sunday/main4803601.shtml| archive-date=11 November 2010| url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Bar|first=Zvi|url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1151234.html|title=Iran is regional superpower even without nukes|work=Haaretz|location=Israel|date=26 February 2010|access-date=17 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100418192431/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1151234.html|archive-date=18 April 2010|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last=Sick|first=Gary G.|url=http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/42020/gary-g-sick/irans-quest-for-superpower-status|title=Iran's Quest for Superpower Status|magazine=Foreign Affairs|date=1 March 1987|access-date=17 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120822223259/http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/42020/gary-g-sick/irans-quest-for-superpower-status|archive-date=22 August 2012|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/08/30/raman.iran/index.html|work=CNN|title=Iran seeking to become Mideast superpower|date=30 August 2006|access-date=2 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090123165954/http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/08/30/raman.iran/index.html|archive-date=23 January 2009|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://eng.globalaffairs.ru/numbers/14/1007.html|title=Vladimir Sazhin "Iran Seeking Superpower Status"|work=Global Affairs|date=8 February 2006|access-date=17 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071003145759/http://eng.globalaffairs.ru/numbers/14/1007.html|archive-date=3 October 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Burston|first=Bradley|url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/754892.html|title=Will Bush make Iran the only superpower?|work=Haaretz|location=Israel|access-date=17 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091207054251/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/754892.html|archive-date=7 December 2009|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/5363098.stm|work=BBC News|title=Iran's growing regional influence|date=20 September 2006|access-date=2 May 2010|first=John|last=Simpson|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110305202802/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/5363098.stm|archive-date=5 March 2011|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/02/world/africa/02iht-tehran.4443911.html|work=The New York Times|first=Nazila|last=Fathi|date=2 February 2007|access-date=2 May 2010|title=Iran boasts of becoming a superpower|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904071537/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/02/world/africa/02iht-tehran.4443911.html|archive-date=4 September 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wnyc.org/shows/lopate/episodes/2008/09/30/segments/110942|title=The Leonard Lopate Show: Iran: Superpower?|work=WNYC|access-date=17 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207170814/http://www.wnyc.org/shows/lopate/episodes/2008/09/30/segments/110942|archive-date=7 December 2008|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2007/02/02/iran-becoming-superpower/|title=Iran 'becoming superpower'|work=Baltimore Sun|date=2 February 2007|access-date=17 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616134606/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2007-02-02/news/0702020272_1_iran-ahmadinejad-sanctions|archive-date=16 June 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>{{Overcite|date=November 2024}}