Iran's Interests in Afghanistan Post 2014

Abstract

This essay examines Iran’s enduring interests in Afghanistan after 2014, when the United States will wind down its military presence in the country. We find that Iran has maintained several critical interests in the country that are likely to remain highly important to the Iranian Republic. However, as Iran’s standoff with the global nonproliferation order has tightened, so has the sanction regime intended to retard Iran’s ability to develop nuclear weapons. These sanctions have adversely affected Iran’s economy and by extension curbed the efficacy of Iran’s ability to shape events to its liking in Afghanistan.

Keywords: Iran-Afghan relations, Iran’s Interests in Afghanistan post 2014