| Summary: | Since the fall of Mohammed Reza Shah in 1979, the Islamic Republic of Iran has remained politically isolated from the United States and the West. After eight years of brutal war with Iraq, Iran has embarked on a major effort to rebuild its devastated military. A major element of its military reconstruction has been the acquisition of advanced weapons systems with strategic applications, such as long-range bombers, submarines, advanced underwater mines, and ballistic missiles. Iran is also suspected of pursuing the development and acquisition of weapons of mass destruction. Given Iran's latent hostility towards the United States and its past willingness to engage in terrorism, these activities are a most serious concern. This thesis will examine Iran's strategic motivations, beliefs, intentions, and capabilities, as well as the impact of these capabilities on U.S. interests in the Persian Gulf. It will also examine a range of U.S. policy options in response to Iran's pursuit of strategic military capabilities. Iran's national security policy, Strategic motivations, Beliefs, Capabilities and intentions, Impact on U.S. interests and foreign policy options.
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