A Lebanese-American political science professor argues that Iran's recent retaliation against its Gulf neighbors demonstrates weakness rather than strength.
In an interview, Hilal Khashan, head of the Political Science Department at the American University of Beirut, suggests that the Iranian regime's strikes against Gulf neighbors are a sign of its weakness, not strength. Khashan argues that instead of being a regional threat, the theocracy will undergo changes for its survival, particularly in light of pressures from the ongoing conflict instigated by the United States and Israel since February 28.
Khashan recounts the current conditions in Iran and its impact on the region, indicating that these strikes are desperation moves amid increasing attacks by Israel on Hezbollah positions, which further complicates the geopolitical landscape. He notes recent violence, including the deaths of his colleagues at the Lebanese University, reflecting the heightened tensions in the region.
The professor also predicts that while the Iranian regime may survive in some form, it will not be able to retain its previous authority because of internal desires for change. In his writings for Geopolitical Futures, Khashan emphasizes the inevitability of transformation in the Iranian identity and political structure amidst these ongoing conflicts, challenging the notion that the existing regime will continue to dominate as it has in the past.
