lRANIAN PERCEPTIONS ON SECURITY IN THE PERSIAN GULF

For the past quarter of a century Iran has advocated the setting
up of a security regime in the Persian Gulf by littoral states that
excludes foreign powers. This paper examines the reasons behind
Iran's opposition to foreign participation in Persian Gulf security
arrangements; the steps Iran has taken to gain the support of
other littoral states for its scheme, and the prospects for Iran's
success in achieving its desired security arrangements. I argue that
regime ideology and a desire to dominate the Persian Gulf are the
main factors explaining Iranian opposition to a role for foreigners
in the security arrangements in the Persian Gulf. Further, this
paper contends that given the opposition of other Persian Gulf
states to Iranian views the chances of Iran's success are practically
naught. The only thing that the pursuit of these views has resulted
in is the exclusion of Iran from the US-sponsored security
arrangements in the Persian Gulf.