An international relations expert confirmed that the recent war in which Iran participated directly has pushed several Western capitals to reconsider their traditional approaches toward Tehran, noting that the stereotypical image that had settled for decades is no longer static.
The expert stated in a strategic analysis that "the West has been accustomed to viewing Iran as an adversary and a source of regional threat, based on nuclear program files, military influence, and ally networks in the region. However, the military and political performance during the recent war revealed Iranian capabilities in managing conflict within deterrence equations and strategic discipline."
He added that this shift has pushed Western decision-making centers to deal with Iran as "an effective state power possessing real tools of influence, rather than merely an isolated ideological actor," noting that the confrontation results also exposed the limitations of some Western narratives that prevailed following the September 11 events.
He explained that "the traditional link between Islamic movements and the concept of global terrorism has gradually eroded, and the recent war contributed to accelerating this trajectory by showing that violence and extremism are linked to the nature of conflicts and political interests, rather than to a specific religion."
He noted that Iran has not achieved a complete change in its image in the West due to the continued impact of human rights files, sanctions, and the nuclear program, yet it has succeeded in imposing a new reality that makes dealing with it based on the logic of power and strategic balances.
He predicted that the coming phase may witness a split within the West between a camp calling for containment and dialogue with Tehran, and another adhering to pressure and sanctions policies.
