The favourable international context is enabling Iran to promote a more aggressive agenda through the use of various tools: its nuclear program, influence in Iraq and strengthened ties with Syria, as well as enchanced support for Lebanese and Palestinian militant groups.

On this theory, the President's anit-Israeli statements are a collective rather than individual initiative, intended to curry popular favour in the Muslim world, introduce the question of Israel's nuclear arsenal into the equation and, more broadly, shift the ideological balance of forces in the region. 
 
Constructive Interaction: "In this policy, the Isalmic Republic is a regional power, and wants to be influential in regional and international affairs. At the same time, we want to moave from the position of accused to that of accuser. For years, we have been accused of human rights violations, while no one was paying attention to human rights abuses in the West. From now on it won't be the same. Western nations don't have the choice. At first they might be shocked, but if they want to work with the Isalmic Republic they wil have to accept this logic. On issues like oil, the regional situation, and Iran's influence, Western countries must take Iran into account."

Interview with Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, Manouchehr Mohamadi, Tehran, 25 December 2005. Transcript provided to ICG.