

Conflicted Community: Karim Sadjadpour Interview Pt.1 – Iran’s Global Strategy
Jun 12, 2024
Karim Sadjadpour, an Iranian-American senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, delves into Iran's global strategy and its intricate foreign relations. He discusses the country's ongoing tensions with the West and the balance it's trying to achieve with Russia and China. The conversation highlights the implications of Iran's choices in the context of a changing multipolar world, alongside historical tensions with Saudi Arabia during the Hajj. Sadjadpour's insights provide a fascinating look at Iran’s geopolitical landscape.
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Karim's Near Imprisonment in Iran
- Karim Sadjadpour was nearly imprisoned in Iran in 2005 for his NGO work during the presidency of Ahmadinejad.
- Iranian authorities suspect NGOs operate as espionage fronts under authoritarian paranoia.
Iran's Hostility Serves Survival
- The Iranian regime's anti-Americanism is both ideological and strategic for regime survival.
- A U.S.-Iran rapprochement threatens the regime's existence due to loss of ideological justification.
Iran's Ambition for Regional Control
- Iran's grand strategy demands ultimate regional influence, seeking to control Middle Eastern affairs.
- Iran feels threatened by Gulf states' modernization and ties with Israel, fueling ideological competition.