Examining Israel’s Omni-balancing Strategy Towards the Islamic Republic of Iran

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Allameh Tabataba'i University

2 Allameh Tabataba'i University

Abstract

Establishing “strategic relationship” and forming “alliance” with big powers, particularly the U.S., building sphere of influence or “strategic depth” and establishing close relations with Iran’s neighbers are parts of the Zionist regime’s behavior pattern in foreign policy to balance, contain and weaken the Islamic Republic.
Israel considers Republic of Azerbaijan and Iraq’s Kurdish region as its strategic depth. By signing the Abraham Accords, it has worked to find a foothold in Iran’s southern borders. Azerbaijan and Iraqi Kurdistan for Israel are equal to the role Syria and Lebanon play for Iran.
But Israel has not sufficed to “balance of power” and “balance of threat”. It has worked to challenge the Islamic Republic by supporting Iranian separatists and provoking ethnic divisions in Iran. These actions plus focusing on internal vulnerabilities to weaken the rival are in line with “omni-balancing” strategy.
The key goal of this research is to answer this question: What are the components of the Zionist regime’s “omni-balancing” strategy towards the Islamic Republic of Iran, and which of them are of priority for Israel?
This research has employed “qualitative method” and has used “omni-balancing” theory to explore the issue.
The findings of the research show that defective state-building and nation-building, which are the characteristics of the Middle East, have encouraged Iran and Israel to pursue “omni-balancing.”
This research concludes that forming alliance with regional states and global powers, enhancing military might, building strategic depth, intelligence penetration and inciting ethnic divisions in Iran are priorities of Israel’s “omni-balancing” strategy.

Keywords

Main Subjects


Smiley face

شادمانی، مهدیه و عنایت‌الله یزدانی (۱۳۹۷)، «دکترین اتحاد پیرامونی و امنیت اسرائیل»
https://jourm.azadshahr.iau.ir/article_663622_a76ddf9ada13adc149af30d7bb5d2bf2.pdf
حق‌پناه، جعفر (۱۳۸۹)، «موازنه فراگیر: الگوی تحلیل نقش قومیت بر سیاست خارجی با تاکید بر خاورمیانه»، فصلنامه سیاست، مجله دانشکده حقوق و علوم سیاسی، دوره ۴۰، شماره ۲، تابستان ۱۳۸۹، صفحات ۷۷-۹۳
https://jpq.ut.ac.ir/article_21171_98016dc8228b9e784c351579c088ddc9.pdf
دهشیری، محمدرضا و حسین شاه‌مرادی (۱۳۹۹)، «عوامل تعیین‌کننده در نظم امنیتی غرب آسیا بر اساس نظریه موازنه همه‌جانبه» فصلنامه مطالعات روابط بین‌الملل، سال سیزدهم، شماره ۴۹، بهار ۱۳۹۹، صص ۷۵-۱۰۸
https://prb.ctb.iau.ir/article_673599_d14cbe505d90bbc70c9bb56bc4871be0.pdf
احمدی، کوروش (۱۴۰۱)، «معنا و مفهوم عمق راهبردی»، دیپلماسی ایرانی، ۱۶ آذر ۱۴۰۱
http://www.irdiplomacy.ir/fa/news/2016251
مشرق (۱۴۰۱)، «آذربایجان؛ نقطه اتکای راهبردی اسرائیل در قفقاز برای فشار بر ایران»، ۱ خرداد ۱۴۰۱
https://www.mashreghnews.ir/news/1376411
الف (۱۴۰۱)، «تحرک شدید مجتمع‌های کشاورزی ـ نظامی اسرائیل در آذربایجان»، ۱۱ دی ۱۴۰۱
https://www.alef.ir/news/4011011011.html
مقومی، امیررضا و مهدی جاودانی مقدم (۱۴۰۱)، «واکاوی علل و انگیزه‌‌های امارات متحده عربی در عادی‌سازی روابط با رژیم صهیونیستی و پیامدهای آن بر امنیت ملی جمهوری اسلامی ایران»، نشریه علمی آفاق امنیت، سال پانزدهم، شماره ۵۵، تابستان ۱۴۰۱
https://ps.ihu.ac.ir/article_207617_6a540d1f40f85ea2779fb517615bc784.pdf
بخشی، احمد، احسان مزدخواه و هدی یوسفی (۱۴۰۰)، «فرایند دولت‌ملت‌سازی و نقش آن در شکل‌گیری بحران لبنان»، فصلنامه مطالعات بنیادین و کاربردی جهان اسلام، سال سوم، شماره هفتم، بهار ۱۴۰۰
http://ensani.ir/file/download/article/1634732958-10282-7-1.pdf
مشرق (۱۳۹۹)، «برندا شیفر مامور اسرائیل برای تجزیه ایران کیست؟»، ۲۲ اسفند ۱۳۹۹
https://www.mashreghnews.ir/news/1191382
ایسنا (۱۴۰۱)، «چه کسانی ایران را ای‌ران می‌خواهند؟»، خبرگزاری دانشجویان ایران (ایسنا)، یکشنبه ۱ آبان ۱۴۰۱
https://www.isna.ir/news/1401080100212
فرجی، برات و ابراهیم رومینا (۱۳۸۹)، «تنوع قومی و پایداری امنیت ملی در ایران»، فصلنامه آفاق امنیت، سال سوم، شماره هفتم، تابستان ۱۳۸۹
https://ps.ihu.ac.ir/article_200352_3fe5a56db11fdb2a17fa411fe9579ede.pdf
Reinhold, Baron (2001), “Omnibalancing and the House of Saud”, Calhoun, Institutional Archive of the naval Postgraduate School, Thesis Collection, June 2001
https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/36696192.pdf
Nourzhanov, Kirill (2012), “Omnibalancing in Tajikistan’s Foreign Policy: Security-Driven Discourses of Alignment with Iran”, Journal of Balkan and Near Eastern Studies, Volume 14, No. 3, September 2012
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/284427923_Omnibalancing_in_Tajikistan's_Foreign_Policy_Security-Driven_Discourses_of_Alignment_with_Iran
David, Steven (1991), “Explaining Third World Alignment”, World Politics, Volume 43, No. 2, pp. 233-256, January 1991
http://www.olivialau.org/ir/archive/dav1.pdf
Mahmood, Mohammed (2019), “The Significance of Omni-Balancing Theory in Clarifying ‘Third World Leaders Policies’”, Regional Studies Journal, Volume 13, Issue 42, pp.51-77
https://www.iasj.net/iasj/article/170858
State Department (2021), “U.S. relations with Israel”, U.S. Department of State, Bilateral Relations Fact Sheet, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, 20 January 2021
https://www.state.gov/u-s-relations-with-israel/
Eisenstadt, Michael and David Pollock (2012), “Friends with benefits: Why the U.S.-Israeli alliance is good for America”, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, 7 November 2012
https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/friends-benefits-why-us-israeli-alliance-good-america
Middle East Eye (2017), “The 43 times US has used veto power against UN resolutions on Israel”, Middle East Eye, 19 December 2017
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/43-times-us-has-used-veto-power-against-un-resolutions-israel
Lindenstrauss, Gallia (2015), “Israel-Azerbaijan: Despite the Constraints, a Special Relationship”, February 2015
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/274329129_Israel-Azerbaijan_Despite_the_Constraints_a_Special_Relationship
Azemedia (2023), “The iceberg melted _ The enhanced visibility of strategic ties between Israel and Azerbaijan”, Azemedia, 2 February 2023
https://aze.media/the-iceberg-melted-the-enhanced-visibility-of-strategic-ties-between-israel-and-azerbaijan/
Zaman, Amberin (2023), “Turkey rises, Russia fades as Iran and Azerbaijan clash over Armenia”, Al-Monitor, 31 January 2023
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2023/01/turkey-rises-russia-fades-iran-and-azerbaijan-clash-over-armenia
Bahgat, Gawdat and Abdolrasool Divsallar (2022), “Israel’s new Iran strategy complicates regional security”, Middle East Institute (MEI), 27 July 2022
https://www.mei.edu/publications/israels-new-iran-strategy-complicates-regional-security
Bar, Shmuel (2020), “Israeli Strategic Deterrence Doctrine and Practice”, Comparative Strategy, 30 June 2020
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01495933.2020.1772624
Fisher, Max (2013), “Why is the U.S. okay with Israel having nuclear weapons but not Iran?”, The Washington Post, 2 December 2013
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2013/12/02/why-is-the-u-s-okay-with-israel-having-nuclear-weapons-but-not-iran/
SIPRI (2022) “Global nuclear arsenals are expected to grow as states continue to modernize – New Yearbook out now”, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), 13 June 2022
https://www.sipri.org/media/press-release/2022/global-nuclear-arsenals-are-expected-grow-states-continue-modernize-new-sipri-yearbook-out-now
CRS (2020), “Israel’s Qualitative Military Edge and Possible U.S. Arms Sales to the United Arab Emirates”, Congressional Research Service, 26 October 2020
https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R46580
Egozi, Arie (2021), “Israel to request America’s new GBU-72 bunker buster bomb”, Breaking Defense, 22 October 2021
https://breakingdefense.com/2021/10/israel-to-request-americas-new-gbu-72-bunker-buster-bomb/
Israel Hayom (2022), “Israel inks $3.4B submarine deal with Germany’s Thyssenkrupp”, Israel Hayom, 1 January 2022
https://www.israelhayom.com/2022/01/20/israel-inks-3-4b-submarine-deal-with-germanys-thyssenkrupp/
Middle East Monitor (2021), “Israel approves budget of $1.5bn to prepare for attack on Iran”, 19 October 2021
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20211019-israel-approves-budget-of-1-5bn-to-prepare-for-attack-on-iran/
Lappin, Yaakov (2020), “IDF’s new Iran and Strategy Directorate takes ‘big picture’ approach”, Jewish News Syndicate, 12 November 2020
https://www.jns.org/idf-new-iran-and-strategy-directorate-takes-big-picture-approachling-with-the-iranian-threat/
Ould Mohamedou, Mohammad-Mahmoud (2021), “State-Building in the Middle East and North Africa”, Bloomsbury Publishing, 18 November 2021
https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/statebuilding-in-the-middle-east-and-north-africa-9780755601394/
Kilfoyle, Michelle (2022), “An independent Scotland: What would be the options for economic success?”, Economics Observatory, 19 October 2022
https://www.economicsobservatory.com/an-independent-scotland-what-would-be-the-options-for-economic-success
Sternfeld, Lior (2022), “Iranian Jews in Israel, Protests, and the Palestinians”, Foreign Policy Research Institute, 6 December 2022
https://www.fpri.org/article/2022/12/iranian-jews-in-israel-protests-and-the-palestinians/
Ahlerup, Pelle and Gustav Hansson (2008), “Nationalism and Government Effectiveness”, Working Papers in Economics, No. 313, School of Business, Economics and Law, University of Gothenburg, Sweden, 13 August 2008
https://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstream/handle/2077/17763/gupea_2077_17763_1.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
Joost, Hiltermann, (2008), “The 1988 Anfal Campaign in Iraqi Kurdistan”, SciencesPo, 3 February 2008
https://www.sciencespo.fr/mass-violence-war-massacre-resistance/en/document/1988-anfal-campaign-iraqi-kurdistan.html
Pike, John (1998), “Chemical Weapons Programs: History”, Federation of American Scientists (FAS), 8 November 1998
https://nuke.fas.org/guide/iraq/cw/program.htm
Jeremy Bob, Yonah (2018), “Ex-Mossad official: Israel, U.S., Saudis can help regime change in Iran”, The Jerusalem Post, 16 May 2018
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/ex-mossad-official-israel-us-saudis-can-contribute-to-change-in-iran-556502
Volume 16, Issue 58 - Serial Number 1
Spring 1402
July 2023
Pages 161-189
  • Receive Date: 16 March 2023
  • Revise Date: 14 June 2023
  • Accept Date: 23 July 2023
  • Publish Date: 22 June 2023