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At the 18th Annual Meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club in Sochi, President Vladimir Putin hailed the advent of a multipolar world, heralding the end of US global hegemony and the rise of formidable competitors. Withdrawing from Afghanistan, diminishing its clout in Iraq and Syria, and turning its back on many of the world’s hotspots, the US seems to be a retired old man, making it more difficult for US presidents to gain popular support for any new conflict, while many opponents, including Russia, China, and Iran, have pushed forward to fill the void left by the United States’ decline and reclaim their past glory.
In this article, we’ll look at Iran’s international position in the face of US hegemony.
Iran has been able to restore the glory of the Persian Empire by keeping pace with global developments. After the United States withdrew from the 2015 nuclear agreement, Tehran used the opportunity to boost its stockpile of 3.67 per cent enriched uranium to 20%, and subsequently to 60% after concentrating its efforts at the Natanz nuclear reactor. In other words, Iran accelerated its uranium enrichment in response to Israel’s hostile actions and US unlawful sanctions, sending a defiant message to the West and highlighting Iran’s military power and geopolitical ties with Russia and China. Thus, by not returning to Vienna empty-handed, Tehran is demonstrating its ability to cooperate and interact with world powers. Iran’s economy has suffered as a result of US sanctions, but the Iranians have remained adept at playing on the edges. Thanks to allies in Iraq, Lebanon, and Syria, Iran enjoys open borders from Tehran to the Mediterranean Sea, allowing it to freely transfer all types of commodities, hence, many politicians in Washington feel that Iran has inevitably evolved into a major power in certain aspects. Iran’s agendas are fueled by the United States’ involvement in other geopolitical challenges, such as confronting Beijing’s emerging might. Iran’s assistance for the Houthis in Yemen, as well as the arrest of ships passing through the Persian Gulf and the downing of a US spy drone, demonstrate Tehran’s rising might vis-à-vis the US. On the other hand, tensions between Iran and the United States have been escalating in Syria recently, after the heavy assault on the American Al-Tanf base. Although no one has claimed responsibility for the attack, Washington is certain that Iran is behind it. Iran has rejected US proposals for a new nuclear deal, maintaining that the only way ahead is for all sanctions to be lifted and for Washington to return to the 2015 accord. Tehran has likewise refused to talk about its ballistic missiles or growing regional power. The current scenario can only lead to one conclusion: Iran is on par with superpowers and has a bright future in the Middle East.
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