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IRAN
Strategic significance:
Powerful neighbor, bitter enemy of Saddam with significant influence among Iraq's Shiite majority
In the 1991 Gulf War they:
Remained neutral
Now they:
Want a diplomatic solution but won't oppose a U.N.-authorized attack
Their interest in Iraq:
Empowering Iraq's long-suffering Shiites; avoiding long-term U.S. military presence on their frontier, and U.S. control over Iraq's oilfields
Domestic concerns:
Ongoing power struggle between reformists and hard-liners
Price for backing the U.S.:
They won't back an invasion, but their price for helping stabilize a post-Saddam order will likely be guarantees against being added to the U.S. hit-list. Hard-liners may be tempted to foment anti-American insurgency
An Iranian viewpoint: www.irna.com/en/index.shtml
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