Iran’s Unconventional Counter U.S. Strategy

The United States and Iran are involved in a protracted political conflict over Iran’s nuclear program. This conflict has the potential to escalate into a state of military conflict. Iran has attempted to play its perceived military strengths against the United States’ perceived weaknesses. This thesis examines three aspects of Iran’s Strategic approach. The first aspect of this strategy examined are Iran’s actions in Latin America, in particular regarding Iran’s military and terror ties with the ALBA nations compared to Iran’s relationship with Brazil its largest trading partner. The second chapter studies Iran’s actions in the Strait of Hormuz through the lens of traditional naval military strategy, specifically the naval strategies of fleet-in-being doctrine and guerre de cours. This chapter examines the historic and modern performance of the Iranian Navy, as well as other instances of small boat tactics. The final chapter examines the division of the Iranian security forces between the regular army, the IRGC , and Hezbollah and determines that this division is successful. When examining the goals of removing foreign influence from the region, becoming the regional power, and keeping conflict below the threshold for war, this division is effective