My Enemy’s Enemy

Iran’s Approach to the Re-emergence of the Taliban

Dados Bibliográficos

ID22116292
AutoresParisa Abbasian (0000-0003-1521-8312, Murdoch University, autor correspondente)
Ano2022
Volume9
Fascículo3
Páginas493-512
Data de publicação2022-12-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoJournal of Asian Security and International Affairs (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 2347-7970 • E-ISSN: 2349-0039
EditoraSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/23477970221130144
OpenAlexW4308134781
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas1
Referências citadas20

Over the years, Iran’s approach to the Taliban has had ups and downs. Iran welcomed the United States’ 2001 invasion of Afghanistan and worked with the American forces to overthrow the Taliban. Nevertheless, it was not long before Iran adopted an utterly opposite policy by compromising with the Taliban and supplying it with political and military support. This article examines domestic and regional factors contributing to this dramatic change in Iran’s behaviour toward the Taliban. It provides an assessment of how Tehran’s threat perception of the US military presence across its borders, the rise of the Islamic State in Khorasan Province, the increasing Afghan drug trafficking, and the influx of refugees from Afghanistan to Iranian territory have prompted Tehran to pursue a different approach toward the Taliban. It also explains how Iran’s intention to sustain water supply from Afghanistan’s rivers to the eastern provinces of Iran and resume profitable trade with Afghanistan has acted as a catalyst in expanding Iran–Taliban relations. This article argues that Iran sees the Taliban as an agent to weaken the United States, prevent the spread of ISIS in Khorasan, and strengthen Iran’s influence in Central Asia. The article concludes that although the Taliban’s rise to power in Afghanistan poses challenges for Iran, the benefits it brings are such that it prevents Tehran from relinquishing ties with the Taliban

Adversary · Afghan · Ancient history · Central asia · Criminology · Development economics · Drug trafficking · Economics · Geography · Islam · Middle East · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Refugee · Sociology · History · Islamic Studies and History · Law · Politics and Conflicts in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Middle East · Terrorism, Counterterrorism, and Political Violence

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