The Iranian Issue: The emergence of a main potential threat for the international security

The iranian regime appears to be one of the main present sources of threat for the international order and security. The nuclear programme that has been undertaken by its president Ahmadinezhad is raising strong tensions between this country and the main part of the rest of the world, even though its purposes are officially civil. However, the nuclear issue can't be isolated from the role Iran plays in the Middle-East which can be said to be subversive for the stability of the region from many aspects.
The iranian issue is thus very interesting to analyze for international Relations' analysts and students as it is multidimensional, complex, and connected with different kinds of security threats (Sunni/Shi'I rivalry, energetic security, Islamic terrorism, nuclear proliferation, etc.). It makes possible the implementation of IR theories to empirical events, to a concrete reality. This security issue combines traditional security aspects -nuclear non-proliferation, state as a referent object of international security, balance of power, challenge of collective security- and contemporary ones -global terrorism. The aim of this paper is to analyse and explain why Iran appears to be a real and major potential threat for the international order and security. Such a purpose implies first to focus on Iran's history and political regime since its present international behaviour can't be separated from its historical legacy and from the ideology of the regime, even though Realists contest the importance of such matters on states' foreign policy. Then, a presentation of Iran's role, actions, rivals and interests within the Middle East will have to be made, showing that the nuclear programme is only one element of the multidimensional aspects of the iranian issue. Finally, the danger for the international security of Iran's nuclear ambitions will have to be discussed.