Israel is trying to attract Iran. That's why it failed

The most frightening aspect of Iran is the paradox that permeates almost every aspect of human life. On the one hand, the government is very strict about the order of the road and the observance of religious laws. On the other hand, there are not many safety features. In fact, sometimes people expect more. For example, at an airport, sudden movements of people can provide an easy entry point for terrorists. Blocking foreign carriers went hand in hand with the widespread use of VPNs. Almost half a century of war with the United States (Iran is one of the few countries where the United States does not have an embassy) officials and scholars did not stop speaking fluent English and publishing regularly to foreign registries.


This paradox is deeply entrenched in Iran's foreign policy, and it can be seen when we spend a few days in the country while it sleeps through Israeli attacks and missile attacks. It is widely believed that Tehran is satisfied with what it has achieved and does not want to go to an all-out war with its regional rival. From the outside, the response to Israel may seem counterintuitive, but in Iran's paradoxical logic, it is the best response. This allows them to address foreign policy issues without risk. Everyone knows that a major war in the Middle East will only benefit Israel, right? The most important thing for Tehran is not to give Israel what it wants.


This unique foreign and domestic policy approach is the result of the unique culture developed by the country since the Islamic Revolution of 1979. Its main result is the strategic war with the West that occurred during the global hegemony by the United States and its European allies in the 1980s and 2000s. Initially, Tehran's main rival was the Soviet Union, which supported Saddam Hussein's government during the Iran-Iraq war. The event there will be well remembered. However, this does not mean that the opinion of the USSR is changing to Russia - here Iran will easily accept the strategic logic, and the former enemy can become a true friend of the present. Despite the effort to achieve a strategic agreement, the war with the West is shown by the world's perspective: the Iranian government is built on the ability to make decisions from within, a force that is not the United States and Europe.


The price for Iran's independence is very high. First and foremost is the journey of an educated young generation who do not like the constraints of their lives. It also includes many poor people and air pollution in the cities due to the use of old cars and cheap gasoline. The answer to these challenges is the same as a great strategy: the number of students and large universities that have their own research laboratories (especially in the sciences) is increasing. Iran is now a country where academic programs are growing rapidly, including programs aimed at international cooperation.


At that time, no one prevented those who left to return, provided they did nothing wrong. Collaborative research with Iranians living abroad is welcome. The country's strong ability to develop natural science is a reason to believe that the economic and technological problems of development will soon be overcome. The results are starting to come out under the US embargo and UN sanctions, but the difference is that giving up independence is not part of Tehran's plans.


When assessing Iran's foreign policy, we must understand that this great country has been fighting alone for many years. Therefore, this strategy, more than most others, is characterized by a paradoxical logic that separates the true leader from the great strategy. All decisions made by the Iranian government, whether tactical or more important, such as joining the BRICS group in January of this year, must be carefully assessed as an expression of that decision - not a related line. Predicting behavior based on this logic is impossible, but it is this logic that makes relations with Iran interesting and useful.