| المستخلص: |
This paper is trying to explain how Iran's regional role in Africa was greatly influenced by the development that occurred in the relations between Iranian state and society, and the shifts within state institutions, and hence its foreign policy changes in the Rouhani era. Traditionally, Iran policies were clearly aimed at challenging western interests in Africa. Moreover, one of the Iran's foremost objectives since the Islamic revolution has been to insure the primacy of its official ideology, which is a key dimension in Iran’s campaign in the continent. However, Iran's engagement on the black continent became less ideological and more profit- driven as a result of its foreign policy in the Horn of Africa especially after the Arab coalition's military operation in Yemen against Huthi rebels and improving Iran's relations with the West after reaching the international agreement on the nuclear program of Iran in Vienna on July 2015 with the P51+ and the European Union. Furthermore, the main factors that deteriorated Iran influence in Africa are its reputation for supporting and conducting terrorist activities in Somalia, Nigeria, Kenya and many other African states, and the significant growing influence of the Saudi's in Africa over the past few years to counter Iran's penetration of the region. Hence, the arrival of Hassan Rouhani to the Iranian presidency in 2013 was a structural change of the Islamic Republic's foreign policy. Still, Africa remained on the margin of Iran's foreign policy priority, as there is little diplomatic activities of Iran in the region since Rouhani came to power in 2013. The record shows that over the past two decades, the Islamic Republic has continuously sought to expand its influence in Africa, as former Iranian President Ahmadinejad made great efforts to expand Tehran's ties with African countries to break Iran's increasing isolation with the West As a result Ahmadinejad's presidency witnessed extensive Iran diplomatic and political activities in Africa, which reflect a geo-strategic importance of the region to regional ambition of Iran. While the priority of President Rouhani's administration was to improve Iran's relations with the West and enhance Iran's international standing.
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