The U.S. has only strengthened the Iranian regime’s hand – which it’s been doing since 2003
The U.S. military invasion of Iraq in 2003 has had lasting implications for Iran, strengthening its security apparatus rather than fostering the liberal reforms many hoped for. The power shift has favored the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, leading to a more militarized regime. This transformation has roots in the Iranian leadership's response to perceived vulnerabilities following the U.S. actions in Iraq.
- ▪The U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003 triggered a significant response from Iran's religious elite and security establishment.
- ▪The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has gained substantial power, transforming Iran into a military dictatorship.
- ▪Iran's leadership initiated security-sector reforms in response to fears of U.S. intervention, leading to a more decentralized military structure.
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Open this photo in gallery:Motorists drive past a political billboard along Enghelab Square in central Tehran on May 26.ATTA KENARE/AFP/Getty ImagesShareSave for laterPlease log in to bookmark this story.Log InCreate Free AccountAdnan R. Khan is a writer and editor based in Amsterdam and Istanbul.Back in April, 2003, a month after the start of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, I was invited by a teacher friend to speak to his English class at Tabriz University, in northwestern Iran. I was in Tabriz to report on how Iranians were feeling about a U.S.
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