The modern history of Iran and the birth of the Shia proxy model

This chapter provides a short history of contemporary Iran and outlines the challenges that the Iranian Islamist regime poses from an American perspective. The evolution of Iranian foreign policy behavior is tracked through Tehran’s posturing over the last 42 years during a number of military conflicts where Iran has either been a direct participant or an influential actor. It discusses the birth of the Hezbollah and Shia proxy model as well as the Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps. The chapter also identifies key domestic drivers that shape Iranian foreign policy and what this reality signals for Tehran’s future priorities on the regional and international stages.