Relations Between Iran And Syria, Khomeini Period

Iran and Syria are the two major military and political power in the Middle East, the two country are very difference in the surface: From a national point of view, Iran is a Persian nation, but Syria is an Arab nation: From the national institutional point of view. Iran is a pan-Islamic theocratic state, but Syria is a secular pan-Arab Socialist Republics; from a geographical point of view. Iran in the Persian Gulf region. but Syria is in the Eastern Mediterranean region, and the two countries do not have any kind common border. However, their religious affinity, their pivotal position in regional and international affairs and their similar regional foreign policy determine the two countrys are bound to arise directly or indirectly relationship with the contradiction between the interests of the game in the process of dealing with regional and international affairs. At home and abroad,the research of Iran and Syria's domestic political is more,but the the research of the two countrys' relationship is relatively less,therefore,carding the course of Iran-Syrian relationship's development and exploreing the reason of the Iran-Syrian relations development has the special significance,and at the same time, this subjects also have some new ideas.The relationship between Iran and Syria at the time of the Khomeini era can divide into three stage: 1,the breakthrough stages in bilateral relations:from hostility to harmony (1979.2-1982.6). Iran and Syria changed the state of mutual hostility during the Pahlavi era, of which Iran's Islamic revolution is the initial impetusof the changing relations between the two countries, and the Iran-Iraq war made the two countrys bilateral relations has a further development. At this stage, as a result of the radical Islamic revolution and the outbreak of "exporting revolution" caused the deterioration of relations with Arab countries, and followed by Iraq's invasion of Iran, Iran is more dependent on Syria so that Syria is preponderant in Iran-Syria relations 2, the enhanceing stage of bilateral relations: Achievements and Limitations (1982.6-1985.3). With the outbreaking of the Lebanon war in June 6, 1982, The two countries' relationship entered a new era of close cooperation. With the Iran's help, Syria give a heavy blow to Israel and the United States' interests in Lebanon and forced them withdraw from Lebanon. This shows that the cooperation between Syria and Iran reached a crescendo, and have achieved the greatest achievement in their history, but at the same time its' also hinted the beginning of their restricted powers and the decline of cooperation. In fact, Iran and Syria's cooperation are not only limited by it's internal factors, but also limited by the local environment, especially regional big powers such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and affected by the United States and the Soviet Union, the impact of these superpower. At this stage, to deal with the challenges of Lebanon, Syria is very in accordance with Iran. 3, the consolidation stage of bilateral relations: cooperation in the existence of differences, differences continue to cooperate in the consolidation phase (1985.3-1989.6.3). With Israel's withdrawal by the end of 1984 brought about the emergence of a power vacuum, Iran and Syria's differences is increasingly obvious between the agents and the issue of Western hostages, but the two governments are all aware of that the interests of Syria in Lebanon is prevail as Iran's interests in the Gulf region, so far Khomeini died in 1989, Iran-Syrian relations survival with numerous internal and external tensions and serious differences.This paper attempts to use the national interest theory, combinating the real historical events and the specific case of diplomacy, to analyze the relations between Iran and Syria during the Khomeini era. And the conclusion is:the national interests are at the core position and it is the most basic elements in driving the country's interactive in modern international relations, and ideological factors are living in a secondary status of this conclusion, and we can use it as reference and basis to formulate corresponding policies in our country...