Understanding Iran: Security Strategy and State Behavior

The Islamic Republic of Iran’s behavior is difficult for us in the West to understand, but much of Iran’s behavior can be understood if looked at through the lens of security and survival. Surrounded by regional rivals, shaped by the trauma of the 1980s Iran-Iraq War, and having faced decades of sanctions, military pressure, and international isolation, Iran has developed a strategy centered on deterrence, asymmetrical warfare, and regional influence. Understanding these security concerns helps explain Iran’s support for proxy groups, missile development, nuclear ambitions, and broader regional behavior—not simply as expansionism, but as part of a long-term effort to preserve the regime and prevent external threats. It will also help us to understand her behavior during the current standoff with the United States.