Opinion: Is Iran the new regional superpower?

Opinion: Is Iran the new regional superpower? The  Iran war , which began in February with a joint  Israeli - US  attack, has seen Tehran combine its trans-regional deterrence strategy with its domestic defence doctrine.  The strong national and social  solidarity that emerged  after the war broke out - a clear public rejection of foreign interference - also provided the Iranian state with a significant advantage.  This situation has challenged the aggressors’ superior military technology. Today, the line of defence begins in the Iranian homeland and spreads across the broader region.   Before both the current war and the 12-day war in June 2025, Iran’s deterrence strategy was based largely on an “offensive defence” approach, comprising a network outside of its national borders: the “axis of resistance” across  Lebanon ,  Syria ,  Iraq  and  Yemen . Read more:  Is Iran the new regional superpower?   Opinion by  Kayhan Barzegar A banner depicts missiles being fired behind Iranians who are rallying in solidarity with the government, at Valiasr Square in Tehran on 6 April 2026 (Atta Kenare/AFP)

Original source: Middle East Eye