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The Influence of the Vilayat-e-Faqih on Iran's Foreign Policy: A Case Study of Iraq | ||
| Journal of Anbar University for Law and Political Sciences | ||
| Article 34, Volume 16, Issue: 3, September 2026, Pages 984-1011 PDF (919.35 K) | ||
| Document Type: Research Paper | ||
| DOI: 10.37651/aujlps.2025.167729.1699 | ||
| Author | ||
| Mahdi Mostafa Faqi Ahmad* | ||
| Politics and International Relations Department, Faculty of Law, Political Science and Management, Soran University, Soran, Kurdistan Region, Iraq [email protected] | ||
| Abstract | ||
| This study investigates the impact of the Vilayat-e-Faqih (Guardianship of the Jurist) concept on Iran's foreign policy, particularly toward Iraq. The conceptual basis of Iran's political system and its domestic and international conduct is rooted in Vilayat-e-Faqih, which empowers Islamic jurists to oversee the nation's political affairs. This article employs constructivist theory, focusing on the influence of identity, ideas, and historical narratives on state behavior, to examine the intersection of Iran's ideological commitments with regional strategic goals, Since the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003, Iran has enhanced its political, economic, and military influence in Iraq by exploiting shared Shia religious identity and historical connections to shape its influence among both state and non-state actors in Iraq. The research contends that Iran's involvement in Iraq cannot be exclusively attributed to geopolitical or security reasons. Vilayat-e-Faqih, on the other hand, is an intellectual framework and a legitimizing tool that helps Iran make decisions about its foreign policy and makes it easier for it to build alliances. These findings indicate that Iran's policies promote cooperation and incite friction in Iraq, furthering its regional objectives while fostering rivalry among diverse national and international actors. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Vilayat-e-Faqih; Foreign policy; Policies; Identity | ||
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