The impact of the discourse of the Islamic revolution on Iran's confrontation policy with the United States of America and its prospects

میراحمدی, سیدامیر حسین; Vaziry, Amir Farnam

The impact of the discourse of the Islamic revolution on Iran's confrontation policy with the United States of America and its prospects

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

سیدامیر حسین میراحمدی ¹

amir farnam vaziry ²

¹ iran

² ایرانی

Abstract

The discourse of the Islamic Revolution, since its victory in 1979, has fundamentally transformed the structure and direction of the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran. This discourse, relying on components such as independence, rejection of domination, the spirit of martyrdom, religious democracy, and military power, has outlined an anti-arrogance framework for confronting oppressive powers - especially the United States of America. At the same time, regional and international developments have provided grounds for the emergence of conditional and limited interaction within this discourse; capacities that allow for the tactical use of negotiation without deviating from the principles of discourse. Experiences such as the nuclear negotiations and regional dialogues show that the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, within the framework of this discourse, follows the logic of "resistance interaction"; an interaction that is a tool for preserving the country's principles and revolutionary identity, not bypassing them.

Using a structuralist approach and discourse analysis in international relations, this article examines how the discourse of the Islamic Revolution has influenced Iran’s confrontational and engagement-seeking policies with the United States since the beginning of the revolution. Historical examples analyzed include the Algiers Agreement, the Macfarlane negotiations, the Reform government’s de-escalation period, the nuclear negotiations, and recent indirect talks. The findings show that Iran’s behavior has been subject to identities and discursive meanings more than material considerations, and that the policy of resistance engagement is a sustainable approach in confronting the United States.

Finally, this research can contribute to a better understanding of the identity and strategic dynamics of Iran-US relations and provide guidance for the future analysis of interactions and confrontations between the two countries.

Keywords

Islamic Revolution discourse

Iranian and American foreign policy

politics of denial of domination

Subjects

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