“Iran’s geopolitical situation and its impact upon its international relations”

Iran, one of the countries better located from the geographical point of view, has always been a target of great colonial powers. Its location has also enabled Iran to become a unique commercial market and ensured the path of the most important oil pipelines.
In this regard, several countries like India or China rushed to establish excellent relations with Tehran. Within this framework, Iran prefers the Indian market for its exports and at the same time chooses Indian products when it comes to imports. Europe urgently needs Iran’s gas and oil. An example of that was Lionel Jospin’s violation of Amato’s law. The former French prime minister subscribed oil contracts with the Iranian government through the important French company Total. The U.S. had realized, since the beginning of the Cold War, of the importance of Iran as a strategic front to defend the West. Therefore, the U.S. administrations at that time did not take long to put their most modern weapons at Iran’s disposal in exchange for oil contracts.
Iran’s importance goes beyond its geographical situation and its relations with the great powers. Tehran has begun to play its cards, mainly regarding the demographic weight of the Shiite population. From now on, the Shiite factor, represented by Iran, might play a crucial role in the Iraqi domestic policy. Also, Tehran, represented by the Hezbollah Shiite movement, in the south of Lebanon, is involved in the Arab-Israeli conflict.
The United States is facing a real dilemma. Will it be necessary to attack Iran so that it gives up its nuclear activities? But Iran, with its demographic, geographic and oil weight is not accessible to the U.S. occupant. The country of the Ayatollahs is not that of Saddam. The Iranians have grass-roots organizations across the Arab world and its army has never been subjected to any embargo. Besides, Tehran’s government has good relations with countries which have the right to veto in the UN Security Council.
However, all these elements will not prevent the U.S., in case it feels so, from waging a war against Iran, a war that will cause huge losses to the Bush administration.