Terrorism in Iran: Fighting or Helping?

Today, the 90 million people of Iran are confronted with a critically important juncture in their nations lengthy history which will have implications well into the future. The adverse impacts of longstanding crippling economic sanctions by the United States combined with the perception by many members of the international community that Iranian leaders have militaristic ambitions in the region have created a situation wherein foreign investors are reluctant to actively engage with Iran at present (Iran economy, 2021). Against this backdrop, the Iranian people are also confronted with the harsh reality that their country, the birthplace of human civilization, is also home to several international terrorist organizations that threaten the stability of the region and may even precipitate another world war. The purpose of this paper is to provide a description of the current state of terrorism in Iran and an analysis of the Iranian governments response to these extremist organizations. Finally, an assessment concerning the success of the Iranian governments response is followed by a summary of the research and key findings concerning these issues and their implications for the future in the conclusion.

The current state of terrorism

For far too many Americans, the name Iran immediately conjures up visions of turbaned, wild-eyed terrorists who are bent on destroying the United States and its interests at home and abroad, but this is certainly not the case with the vast majority of the freedom-loving Iranian people. There are some violent extremist actors in Iran, however, that have contributed to this misguided image in the United States and much of the international community. At present, the primary terrorist organizations that are operating in Iran include the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force, the Jaysh al Adl (Jundallah) and the Kurdistan Workers' Party; al-Qaida (Iran terrorism, 2021) as well as providing safe having for actors from Hezbollah and Hamas (Malakoutikhah, 2020). In addition, the U.S. State Department charges that Iran has sponsored terrorist cells in Syria, Iraq and parts of Gaza (Country reports on terrorism, 2019). In this regard, the most recent State Department report on terrorism in Iran emphasizes that, Iran used the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force to provide support to terrorist organizations, provide cover for associated covert operations, and create instability in the region (Country reports on terrorism, 2019, p. 2).

These actors operate in different parts of Iran but they are typically located near border regions with neighboring countries to facilitate their regional terrorist activities (Country reports on terrorism, 2019). Moreover, these terrorist organizations claim different motivations for their activities that defy easy analysis and explanation, with...

It should be noted, though, that some authorities believe that humiliation in one form or another represents the true motivation for all forms of terrorism (Lindner, 2001).

Further, some terrorist organizations appear to be seeking territorial gains in neighboring countries or political leverage over their perceived enemies using terrorist attacks as a tool to achieve these nefarious goals (Malakoutikhah, 2020). Because these organizations are allowed to operate within the borders of Iran with veritable impunity and outright protection from the Iranian government, it is not surprising that intelligence agencies around the world are eager to learn as much about what to expect from the unpredictable but increasingly dangerous Iranian regimen as possible.

What is known for certain at present is that Iran has a long history of harboring and sponsoring terrorist organizations, especially following the 1979 Islamic Revolution which ousted the hated shah and replaced him with a strict theocracy that subscribes to Sharia law. This...

…kept its nuclear powder dry while the Iranian regime continues to prosecute terrorist activities around the world, it is reasonable to posit that the international community, most especially the United States and the European Union, remain a nervous wreck when it comes to Iran and its support of terrorism within its own borders but especially in neighboring countries.

Conversely, even if any significant decisionmaker within the Iranian government currently has legitimate aims to reduce these criminal activities within its borders, the governments response is a miserable failure. Consequently, any improvement in the Iranian governments response to terrorist activities within its own borders and is sponsorship of terrorism abroad must involve a fundamental sea change in leadership, one that embraces the rule of law and conformance with international standards of conduct in order to effect any real meaningful change.

Conclusion

The research was consistent in showing that Iran is not only preventing terrorism at home and abroad, its leadership is actively encouraging its use as a tool for achieving a wide range of political and religious goals that have adversely affected its own populace as well as the entire world. Although the United States and its political and commercial interests are culpable for many of the ills that beset Iran at present, it is reasonable to conclude that when mainstream Americans witness the American flag being burned and stomped on while crowds of Iranians chant Death to America!, most wonder, What the hll did we ever do to make these people hate us so much that they want to kill us? The research showed that the answer to this seemingly inexplicable question is the faction of the Iranian government that is bent on sowing destruction and discord while reaping the economic benefits of using terrorism as a tool for unjustly enriching some segments of its…