Daily Editorial Analysis 11 September 2026

The Global War on Terror, An Empowered Iran 

Context

• The global war on terror, launched by the United States after September 11, 2001, sought to eliminate terrorism and contain threats to American interests.
• However, its interventions in Afghanistan and Iraq produced unintended consequences that strengthened Iran.
• By removing hostile regimes, creating political vacuums, and intensifying sectarian conflicts, U.S. actions enabled Tehran to emerge as a powerful regional actor.
• Iran’s rise demonstrates how military intervention can generate outcomes contrary to its original objectives.

The Removal of Iran’s Strategic Rivals

• Before 2001, Iran faced strategic pressure from two hostile neighbours: the Taliban in Afghanistan and Saddam Hussein’s Iraq.
• The U.S. invasions of Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq in 2003 removed these governments, eliminating Iran’s most dangerous regional adversaries.
• In Iraq, the overthrow of Saddam’s Sunni-dominated regime enabled the emergence of a Shia-led political order with strong connections to Tehran.
• Iran subsequently developed substantial influence over Iraqi political institutions, security organisations, and armed militias.
• Iraq gradually shifted from a hostile neighbour to a strategic partner, significantly improving Iran’s regional position.

Sectarianism and the Expansion of Proxy Warfare

• The Shia-Sunni Divide

  • The invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq destabilised existing political structures and intensified Shia-Sunni sectarian tensions.
  • The weakening of central authority encouraged religious identity-based mobilisation and armed conflict.
  • In Iraq, Sunni insurgent groups and Shia militias competed for influence, while regional powers supported opposing factions.
  • Iran strengthened Shia militias, whereas Saudi Arabia and other regional actors supported Sunni political and militant forces.
  • This proxy warfare increased Tehran’s influence and undermined the objective of isolating Iran.

• Iran’s Role in Counter-Terrorism

  • The emergence of ISIS paradoxically strengthened Iran’s regional position.
  • Tehran became a crucial military supporter of the Iraqi government, deploying advisers and coordinating Shia militias through the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
  • Iran’s participation in the anti-ISIS campaign provided strategic legitimacy for its military presence in Iraq and Syria.
  • Although the United States and Iran briefly shared an interest in defeating ISIS, meaningful cooperation failed to emerge.
  • The U.S. designation of Iran as part of the Axis of Evil in 2002 reflected continuing hostility and prevented sustained dialogue.

The Axis of Resistance and Forward Defence

• Iran’s regional strategy developed around the Axis of Resistance, a network of political, military, and social organisations extending across Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine.
• Its major members include Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, and Shia militias in Iraq.
• These groups provide Iran with strategic depth and enable it to exert influence beyond its national borders.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Asymmetric Power

• Iran’s military strategy has focused heavily on the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), particularly its Quds Force.
• The IRGC controls important strategic assets and coordinates Iran’s regional partnerships.
• Unlike conventional military forces, the IRGC specialises in asymmetric warfare, using military advisers, intelligence, missile capabilities, and allied armed groups to project Iranian power.
• This strategy allows Iran to challenge the United States and Israel without matching their conventional military superiority.
• Proxy networks have therefore become a central pillar of Iranian defence policy.

Power Vacuums after 2011

• The S. withdrawal from Iraq and the Arab Spring in 2011 created political and security vacuums.
• Iran was well positioned to exploit these developments because it already possessed established networks of allies and military influence.
• In Iraq, Iranian-backed forces became important actors in the fight against ISIS.
• In Syria, Tehran intervened to defend Bashar al-Assad’s government, protecting its major state ally and preserving access to Hezbollah in Lebanon.
• The prolonged Forever Wars consumed American resources and attention, allowing Iran to consolidate its influence.
• Its ability to operate through local partners reduced the costs of direct intervention while increasing strategic reach.

The Transformation of Iran into a Regional Power

• The removal of hostile regimes, collapse of political institutions, and rise of sectarian conflicts enabled Tehran to expand its influence across West Asia.
• Iran’s regional power rests on strategic depth, proxy warfare, political alliances, military networks, and nationalism.
• The IRGC coordinates regional operations, while allied governments and armed groups provide buffers against external threats.
• This transformation illustrates the limitations of strategies based exclusively on military containment.
• By attempting to reshape West Asia through intervention, the United States unintentionally created conditions for Iran’s rise.

Conclusion

• Although the United States sought to eliminate terrorism and contain Iran, its interventions removed Iran’s strategic rivals, destabilised neighbouring countries, and enabled Tehran to expand its influence.
• Iran capitalised on these developments through the Axis of Resistance, the IRGC, and an extensive network of regional alliances.
• Iran’s present capacity to resist pressure from the United States and Israel reflects the cumulative advantages it gained during the past two decades.
• Its rise demonstrates that military interventions can generate unintended strategic consequences, particularly when they disrupt regional balances without establishing durable political stability.

The Global War on Terror, An Empowered Iran FAQs

Q1. Why did Iran’s regional influence increase after 2001?
Ans. Iran’s influence increased because the U.S. invasions removed its hostile neighbours, Afghanistan’s Taliban regime and Saddam Hussein’s Iraq.

Q2. How did sectarianism strengthen Iran?
Ans. Sectarian conflicts enabled Iran to support Shia militias and expand its regional influence.

Q3. What is the Axis of Resistance?
Ans. The Axis of Resistance is a network of Iran and allied political and military groups across West Asia.

Q4. How did ISIS benefit Iran strategically?
Ans. ISIS’s rise enabled Iran to become a key military supporter of Iraq and strengthen its regional position.

Q5. What is the main lesson of the global war on terror?
Ans. Military interventions can produce unintended consequences by creating power vacuums and strengthening regional rivals.

Source: The Hindu

‹ ›