Iran has long been in a tricky situation when it comes to World politics.
With few allies surrounding them, massive sanctions in place by countries like the US, and a challenging economy, it’s no small wonder than they’ve been able to maintain an international presence for so long. Of course, though, with recent attacks on tanker vessels, and the impending breach of nuclear stockpile agreements, it’s not too hard to see that Iran could be building up to something bigger. If war were to break out between Iran and the West, though, would you need to worry about the threat they present?
Iran’s Military
While the country has had to go through a lot of conflict over the last few decades, Iran’s military hasn’t been upgraded for a very long time. Relying largely on conventional weapons, like missiles and infantry troops, nations like the US and France wouldn’t have too much trouble with this army. The soldiers which form the ranks are incredibly well trained by modern military standards, but this simply wouldn’t be enough to overcome the smart weapons and sheer numbers found in American armies. It’s unlikely that Iran attacks on the West would be so direct, with the country seeking other ways to influence the world around them.
Iran’s Oil
Oil is far more important than the military strength of a country like Iran. The middle east is the largest provider of this resource across the world, making it extremely crucial to a lot of different countries. If Iran were to stop selling oil or were able to disrupt the sale of oil by other countries, the impact could be staggering. Iran has already made attempts to seize oil tankers off their own coast, making it seem as if they are preparing to take this sort of action, though it is hard to say whether or not this is simply an anomaly. This small country could be a lot more wealthy if it wasn’t for the sanctions imposed on their oil sales, making taking control of this vital resource a good way to improve their standing in the world.
Will They Go To War?
While it is impossible to say whether or not the leaders of a country will decide to go to war, it isn’t too hard to predict the results of a conflict. Thanks to the organisation of the World’s militaries, it wouldn’t take too long for an all-out assault to be stopped in its tracks, and the US has troops stationed in areas which are important to them, including oil hotspots. This would make it incredibly difficult for Iran to win a war against the west, and this usually means that they wouldn’t want to start one. Of course, though, with Trump in power, it’s hard to know what might happen.
There are a lot of reasons for countries to avoid conflicts like this. Not only is it hard to see a clear winner in modern wars, but it also costs a huge amount of money and human lives. Iran’s leadership isn’t foolish, and it’s unlikely that an all-out war would kick up unless sanctions became unreasonably strict, forcing them to fight out of desperation.
Photo Credit: Foroozan Faraji via Unsplash
