2 - Iran’s Threat Perceptions

Summary

For millennia, Iran’s geography has been a cornerstone of its geopolitical strength, but at critical junctures also its Achilles heel. Time and space are the factors that have shaped the Iranian identity and at the same time generate the conditions that threaten the country’s national security. Geography is the percolator for generational grievances against foreign machinations and interventions. Abuse by world powers has loomed large in Iran’s threat narratives and perceptions. The chapter argues that Tehran’s threat perceptions have evolved over the years and Iranians have shown a remarkable ability to adapt their doctrine and posture in response.