Post on 28-Feb-2023
THE IDENTITY REASONS
BEHIND IRAN’S MILITARY INTERVENTION
IN IRAQ’S CONFLICT AGAINST
ISLAMIC STATE OF IRAQ AND AL-SHAM (2014)
By: Arlita Widyastuti
Department of International Relations
Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta
arlitawidyastuti@rocketmail.com
Abstract
The Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) rapid and shocking insurgency in
Iraq which already began since December 2013 has been successful to gain concern
from the international world. The interesting international politic phenomena happen
during the insurgency is that Iran, one of Iraq neighboring country, shows the actions of
military intervention by sending its two battalions of Quds force on 11th
June 2014 in
order to help Iraq fighting against ISIS. That phenomenon is the new development of
Iran foreign policy toward Iraq in 2014. It really interesting because of by seeing their
historical background, both of them shared mainly the enmities relations rather than
friendly relations. Moreover there is a fact stated that Iran was the country that actively
support and sponsored some of the terrorist, militant and jihadist group to chase away
United States of America during its occupation in Iraq.
This paper will analyze the reasons behind Iran’s military intervention in Iraq
that already mentioned before. It involves foreign policy concept as well as
constructivism theory as the tools to find that reasons. First, this paper will prove that
the reasons behind Iran’s military intervention in Iraq in the case of Iraq conflict against
ISIS is because of Iran and Iraq shares same identity bond as Shiite based country which
threaten by ISIS. Second it will also prove that Iran military intervention pushes by the
reasons of protection toward Iran and Iraq political alliance.
Keywords:
Foreign Policy, Military Intervention, Constructivism, Identity, Iran, Iraq, ISIS, Shiite,
Sunni, Wahabbism, Political Alliance
Introduction
This paper will elaborates the reasons Iran’s military intervention to help Iraq
fighting against ISIS by using constructivism theory. First, this study will prove that
Iran and Iraq shares bond as states that based on Shiite identity. Second, it then proves
that the identity which embodied inside ISIS is basically attacking the identity of Iran
and Iraq and third, it then concludes that the reasons behind Iran’s military intervention
is to protect Shiite identity that being attack by Iran
This paper also proves that the reason behind Iran’s intervention in Iraq’s
conflict against ISIS is because of Iran want to protect its Shiite political influence in
Iraq. This paper proves that by first analyzing the influence of Iran’s identity in its effort
to build political relations with Iraq since post-Saddam Era. Second, by analyzing how
Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) insurgency in Iraq possess possibility to
destruct the political relations between Iran and Iraq trough its identity and third it
concludes that the reason of Iran’s military intervention in Iraq conflict against ISIS is
because of identity interest to protect its Shiite political alliance with Iraq.
Constructivism Theory
This paper uses the theory of constructivism in order to find the reasons behind
Iran’s military intervention in Iraq case against Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS).
The constructivism theory established after the cold war era which mainly focused on
the importance of normative and material structures in the importance of the identity in
shaping the political behaviour (Reus-Smit, 2005).
There are three main ontological prepositions established by the constructivism.
First, constructivism believes that structure is able to shape the behaviour of social and
political actors both individual or states actors. In building the structure it is believed
that normative and ideational aspect is as important as material aspect. Normative and
ideational factors here mean that metaphysical aspects such as ideas, belief, value,
culture, and norms which embodied inside the actors. Constructivism believes that the
normative and ideational factors also have structural characteristic in which they are
able to influence the political and social actions. It believes that the material sources of
actors only have meaning because the actors have the structure of knowledge or
normative and ideational structures embodied inside the actors (Reus-Smit, 2005).
Therefore one kind of material source will have different meaning based on the actors
who acquire them, since every single actor has his/her own unique normative and
ideational structures.
Second, constructivism believe that the non-material structure mentioned before
is important to form the identities of the actors, and the identity is the crucial factor that
determined the interest of actors both individual and states actors, in consequence
interest will produce the actions. In taking the decision the actors will find a lot of
possible options and there is no exact pattern applied in all actors’ preference because of
their difference identity will create different outcomes. Constructivism believes that
understanding the reasons behind the interest creation is crucial to understand the
international phenomena. It tends to analyze the identity of the actors to generate the
reason behind their creation of interest.
The last ontological preposition is that constructivism believes that the
normative and ideational structures will be able to form the identities of the actors but it
will not exist without the use or practices of those structures in knowledgeable manner
(Reus-Smit, 2005). Identities shape the behaviour of the actors through three
mechanisms: imagination, communication, and constraint. Identity will form the actors
preference in deciding behaviour related to the phenomena that they face. Thus it
usually used by the actor to legitimate their action toward certain case.
Those three main ontological will match the best to understand why Iran do the
intervention in Iraq crisis’s against ISIS. This paper will try to prove that Iran’s military
intervention in 2014 Iraq’s conflict against Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) is
based on Iran’s identity reasons. It sees military intervention of Iran as its form of its
political behaviour in reacting ISIS insurgency in Iraq. Therefore it will see argue that,
behind that military intervention there are identity reasons, as constructivism believe
that the identity of certain actor that consist of the values it’s believe will determine the
interest behind its political behaviour.
By implementing constructivism theory, this paper will prove that by analyzing
the relations between Iran’s identity, Iraq’s identity and also the Identity of Islamic
State of Iraq and al-Sham, and finally conclude that based on that relations Iran has
interest in Iraq that become the reasons why then Iran do the military intervention in
Iraq’s conflict against ISIS.
A. The Bound between Iran and Iraq Identity as Shiite Country
1. Iran’s Identity as Shiite Based Country
The first ontological of constructivism stated that one structure will be able to
reshape the behavior of certain actor (Individual or States actor). Constructivist
particularly, believe that in the creation of structure, the normative and ideational
aspects are very important, it is different from common international relations theories
that mostly believe that the behavior of certain actor will be determined by its material
aspects. One of the normative and ideational aspects mentioned before is value in which
specifically important in the creation of Identities of certain actor (Reus-Smit, 2005).
Iran is one of the states that historically through a process in such way to make it
embodies the value of Shiite Muslim. Iran in the past before it becomes independent
state like today had been occupied by the Savafids Empire. Savafids occupied Iran (at
that time called as Persia) for 234-year, started from 1501 to 1736 (Ghasemi). Savafids
dynasty is the dynasty that particularly runs based on Shiite Muslim. As it occupied
Iran, it made sure that Iran would be also run based on Shiite values, even though the
majority of Iran citizen were Sunni Muslim. The fact noted that the Savafids dynasty
planted the Shiite value by force trough military power (Ghasemi). The encyclopedia of
Iranica says:
It might indeed be argued that the rise to power of the Savafids constituted another
Turkic invasion of Persia………The ultimate result was, however, the formation of a
distinctively Persian state dedicated to the propagation of Shi’ism………. It was,
however, nothing less than a reign of terror that inaugurated the new dispensation. On
capturing Tabriz in 907/1501, a city two-thirds Sunnite in population, Shah Esma’il
threatened with death all who might resist the adoption of Shi’ite prayer ritual in the
main congregational mosque, and he had Qezelbas soldiers patrol the congregation to
ensure that none raise his voice against the cursing of the first three caliphs, viewed as
enemies of the Prophet’s family. In Tabriz and elsewhere, gangs of professional
execrators known as the tabarra’an would accost the townsfolk at random, forcing them
to curse the objectionable personages on pain of death. Selective killings of prominent
Sunnites occurred in a large number of places, notably Qazvin and Isfahan, and in
Shiraz and Yazd, outright massacres took place. Sunnite mosques were desecrated, and
the tombs of eminent Sunnite scholars destroyed (Son of Sunnah, 2011)
The statement above proved that Savafids dynasty had changed Iran from Sunni based
to Shiite based through the use of violence. It threaten the society with death sentenced
if they did not follow the Shiite ritual and raise voice against cursing three caliph after
Prophet Muhammad: Abu Bakr, Uman and Uthman (Son of Sunnah, 2011). It is
important to know that the enmities between Sunni Muslim and Shiite Muslim started
since the death of Prophet Muhammad because there was difference in the decision
process to choose the next caliph after Prophet Muhammad. Sunni followers are those
who believe in Abu Bakr, the father in-law of Prophet Muhammad, while Shiite
believes the successor of Prophet Muhammad is Ali Ibn Abi Thalib.
The important figure in the Savafids era that had strong role in changing Iran,
region which had Sunni as its majority into Shiite based region was Isma’il Shah. When
he came into power in Iran in 1501, he declared himself as the manifestation of God, the
divine fire of the hidden imam, and the mahdi (Lapidus, 2002). As he shared family line
with seventh imam, his authority was absolute and unquestionable (Lapidus, 2002).
He was planted the seeds of Shiite in Iran through several ways. First imported
some expert of Shiite from several countries such as Bahrain, Syria, northeastern
Arabia, and Iraq to be his interpretation of “twelve” Shi’ism (Lapidus, 2002). Second,
the Savafids dynasty through the sadr also managed the ulama into state-control
bureaucracy which implemented the ritual of cursing of the first three caliphs, appointed
judges as well as teachers (Lapidus, 2002). Moreover, Safavid dynasty also infiltrated
the Shiite into Iran through violence way such as executed religious enthusiasts who did
not willing to obey the dynasty and highly violated the tomb or shrines of Sunni
scholars (Lapidus, 2002).
The infiltration of Shiite value done by Savafids dynasty in the period before
Iran is independence is one of the strong processes that influenced the creation of
modern Iran which until today still strongly run as Islamic republic which based on
Shiite Muslim. The formal structure of modern state of Iran that was based on Shiite
Muslim started since the Iranian Revolution in 1979. Iranian Revolution actually started
in 1977 when society finally felt that the leadership of Shah Reza Pahlevi violated their
right and began to fight for their freedom (Zayar). From uprising to ask the freedom the
Revolution transform into the religious revolution because of the role of Ayatullah
Ruhollah Khomeini. Ayatullah Ruhollah Khomeini is a strong figure in the Shiite
legacy. He was received his theocracy knowledge from Qumm which known as the
centre of the Shiite studies in Iran (Fuller, 2003). He had been actively rejected Shah
Reza Pahlevi’s idea on establishing secular Iran. He believes that Iran must be an
Islamic state and what Shah did was considered by Khomeini as the betrayal toward
Iran’s Muslim society. As the society at that time also put Shah as public enemy the
clash between Shiite and Sunni forgotten and they struggled hand in hand to overthrow
Shah and they finally succeeded to overthrow Shah in 1979.
The intention of the revolution first started with non-religious purpose, on how
the society want the Shah Reza Pahlevi down from his leadership because of the society
feel that the welfare not distributed well and the welfare only centralize in the Shah’s
family. Apparently the charisma of Ayatulloh Khomeini able to transform the
revolution which began as the coalition to overthrow Shah Reza Pahlevi into Islamic
Revolution which based on Shiite Muslim (Best, Hanhimaki, Maiolo, & Schulze, 2004).
During that revolution, Ayatulloh Khomeini is an important actor as he was the
one who strengthen the value of Shiite inside the structure of modern Iran by applying
the principle of Shiite along side with his struggle to overthrow the Shah. In the period
of revolution from 1977-1979, he had implemented Shiite tradition in his action such as
calling for the involvement of Shiite clerics in the political struggle to over throw Shah
by stating that the tradition of mourning and suffering for the death of al-Husain
(grandson of Prophet Muhammad) replaced by the necessity of sacrificial death in the
fight against Shah (Fuller, 2003). As the consequence when the revolution succeeded in
1979, Ayatulloh Khomeini became the person who has highest authority to be the next
Iran’s ruler and Shiite has strong position in Iran’s politics.
Khomeini then declared Iran as Islamic Republic of Iran on 1st April 1979, the
state that based on theocracy of Shiite Islam or the government of God. He established
the Islamic form of government called as ve-layat-e-faqih (rulling of the jurist) that
consisted of Shiite clerics (Best, Hanhimaki, Maiolo, & Schulze, 2004). He
implemented Islamic law with Shiite interpretation and spread his influence trough his
fatwa. He also does Cultural Revolution, the wave of “Islamization”, in 1980.
Until today, in the hand of President Rouhani, Iran still strongly runs as Shiite
country. The fact stated that Rouhani himself is the follower of Khomeini during the
Iranian Revolution in 1979; he is also Shiite clerics with the title of Hojatoleslam which
is the middle rank in the religious hierarchy (Best, Hanhimaki, Maiolo, & Schulze,
2004). Iran until today also still runs based on the constitution of 1979 established by
Khomeini (Best, Hanhimaki, Maiolo, & Schulze, 2004). It proved that Iran today is still
the state that runs based on basic Shiite principles of Khomeini moreover based on its
historical process Shiite has long period influence in Iran since the era of Savafids until
the era of Rouhani.
The infiltration of Shiite Islamic value since the Savafids Empire and Iranian
revolution initiated by Khomeini was the period when the value of Shiite Muslim
institutionalized in Iran. The value of Shiite has been institutionalized trough the force
of the Savafids Empire and also the political movement of Khomeini that already
explained before. Then, the value of Shiite inside the structure of the government
establish at the same time when the Islamic Republic of Iran establish. Those processes
make Iran as a state that based on the Shiite Identity.
The creation of Iran identity explained before was in accordance with the
explanation of constructivism in the idea of normative and ideational aspect such as
value, culture, tradition in this case are the value, culture and traditions of Shiite Muslim
in Iran which is brought by important actor was successful to form Shiite Islam as
identity in Iran.
The Shiite value that embodied in Iran’s identity is the important aspect of
decision making in Iran. For example the motive behind the revolution of Iran initiated
by Khomeini in 1979 was strongly pushed by the reason of Shiite identity to end the
phase of secularization done by Shah Reza and try to shape it to the direction of Islamic
State. The enmities of Iran and Iraq happen also because of Identity reason.
In 1979 the Baa’th regime came into power in Iraq, and signs the rise of Sunni’s
power over the majority of Shiite in Iraq. Particularly in the hand of Saddam Hussein,
Iraq does suppression toward the majority of Shiite Muslim by acknowledged them as
underclass. Moreover, in the hand of Saddam Hussein and his Ba’ath regime, the
government of Iraq was suppressed any cultural linkage between Iraq (Cordesman &
Khazai, 2014). It even offer financial incentive for the Iraq people who willing to
divorce their spouses if they had Persian ancestry (Cordesman & Khazai, 2014). As
consequences, when Iraq showed its intention to have friendly relations with Iran after
the Iranian revolution by praising the success of the revolution, it did not get friendly
respond from Iran.
Khomeini kept on supporting and calling the Shiite society of Iraq to do
revolution as what Iran did and clearly set up enemy line with Iraq since then. Iran in
the hand of Khomeini at that time saw Iraq as the country that ungodly since it
suppressed Shiite Islam as the religion branch that Khomeini live with. Iran in 1980 was
known for supporting Shiite militant to kill twenty of Ba’ath officials and responded by
Iraq with the assassination of Shiite important figure in Iraq, Ayatollah Mohammad
Baqir and his sister Amina Haydar. Finally, in 1980 the war between them happened
and ended in 1988. It proved that before there was a war between Iran and Iraq in 1980-
1988 in which the basic foundation of their rivalry was the identity of both state that
clashed each other, Iran with its Shiite and Iraq with the Sunni’s power.
2. The Reaction of Iran-Iraq Identity Bond as Shiite Country
The change of Iran’s direction of relations with Iraq from enemy to be friend
happened after the downfall of Saddam Hussein. The change basically happened
because of identity reason also. The fell down of Saddam then triggered the fell down of
Sunni power in Iraq. As Saddam fell down it became turning point for Shiite power in
Iraq, as it started to gain political power after long term suppression from Ottoman
period until the Ba’ath period. After the downfall of Saddam in 2003, the United States
of America led-coalition choose 25 personal to be Iraq Governing council member
which consist of 15 Shiite Muslim, 5 Sunni Muslim, 5 Kurds, 1 Christian and 1
Turkmen, that fact is the proved of the emerging Shiite power in the government of Iraq
after Saddam Hussein (Global Security Organization).
As the identity of Iraq change from Sunni central power into the Shiite central
power, Iran’s bond with Iraq as the fellow Shiite states started to formulate. With the
Shiite domination government in Iraq the bond of Shiite value between Iran and Iraq
also developed. It is noted that since the downfall of Saddam Hussein the flowing of
Iranian from Iran to Iraq was increased significantly. The reason for Iranian visited Iraq
at that time is mainly because they finally were able to visit Shiite holy places in Iraq.
Starting from that moment it noted that the cultural exchange of Iran and Iraq become
intensified.
For Iran and Shiite followers in the world, Iraq is considered as highly sacred
and holy country due to the fact Iraq known as the place where the Imam Ali moved and
made the city of Kufa his capital (Almodarresi, 2003). It is important to note that Imam
Ali is someone that Shiite followers believe as the first Prophet Muhammad’s successor.
Along with his moving to Kufa, many of his followers also followed him to move and
make Kufa as the city that has two millions Shiite populations (Almodarresi, 2003).
Imam Ali known was assassinated in Kufa, and was buried in nearby city of Najaf
(Almodarresi, 2003). As consequences, the shrines of Imam Ali become the highest
holy places for Shiite Muslim, and it is locates in Iraq. Moreover, Iraq also the country
that becomes the resting place for the other top Shiite leaders as well as the central study
of Shiite Islam.
The shaping of Iran and Iraq relations that already explained before is happened
because there is a change of identity from Sunni to Shiite domination in Iraq that finally
supported the establishment of friendship relations with Iran. According to the
constructivist ontological, the behavior of certain actor is really influenced by its
identity, and that happened in the case of the creation of friendship relations between
Iran and Iraq. They have indeed a long history of rivalry but with the change of Identity
of Iraq triggered by the downfall of Saddam Hussein, Iran and Iraq finally has a friendly
bond as country that based on Shiite identity.
3. Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) attack on Shiite
The Shiite identity embodied both in Iran and Iraq recently being challenge by
the emergence of Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) that already started since
December 2013 but it comes into intention of International awareness since 10th
June
2014 as it maintained rapid takeover of Iraq’s second biggest city, Mosul. ISIS’s
identity naturally brings the value that clash and threatens the identity of both Iraq and
Iran as Shiite Islam.
In contrast to the value of Shiite that construct the identity of Iran and Iraq, the
value that embodied inside the ISIS organization is Sunni Islam value in which the
opposite of Shiite value. ISIS is fundamentalist Sunni Jihadist organization that work
using terror and open fight against the government of Iraq. The value of Sunni inside
ISIS already inherited from its founding father, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, Sunni
fundamentalist who is originally a Jordanian. ISIS’s ultimate goal reflects its identity as
Sunni fundamentalist as it want to establish Islamic caliphate based on Sunni in Iraq and
area categorized as al-Sham (mainly consist of Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, Palestine and
even Southern of Turkey), it also clear that ISIS embodied the value of Sunni Muslim
(Lynos & El-naggar, 2014).
In its operations inside Iraq, Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) specifically
has known for doing massive killing of Iraq Shiite Muslim and also beheading some
foreign citizen mainly from the United States of America, Britain and Israel. It also
targeting to destruct the Shiite Islamic shrines such us destructed Prophet Yunus shrine
and tomb in Mosul, destroyed mosque of Imam Yahya Abu al-Qassim and also
demolished the shrines of Al-Khidr (Al-Alawi, 2014). Besides killing the Shiite and
Western citizen in their action ISIS also even killed Sunni Muslim who does not
supporting ISIS operations. In October 2013 ISIS did massacre of the member of Sunni
Albu Nimr tribe in west of Ramadi, at least 150 men had been killed (Al Arabiya News,
2014).
ISIS forms of operation today reflect the Wahhabism. ISIS circulated the images
of Wahhabi textbook in schools it controls, in video uploaded by the group shows the
Wahhabi text attached on the sides of an official missionary van (Kirkpatrick, 2014).
The brutal massacre done by ISIS in the past also done by Wahhabi as he wrote "Those
who would not conform to this view should be killed, their wives and daughters
violated, and their possessions confiscated” (Crooke, 2014). Wahhabism basically
brought the spirit of theological reform in Islam. Particularly it openly declared war
against Shi’ism, Sufism and Greek Philosophy (Crooke, 2014).
The leader of Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) today, Baghdadi,
generally adapted two elements of Wahhabi. First he call upon the political action to
reject foreign domination of the Arab world in which also can be found as characteristic
of other 20th
century Islamist movement such as Muslim Brotherhood and al-Qaeda
(Kirkpatrick, 2014). Second, he takes the idea of Wahhabi that promotes restoration of
caliphate as ISIS always stated that they do their insurgency in order to establish Sunni
Caliphate in the areas that they controlled (Kirkpatrick, 2014). Therefore the ISIS
strongly embodied the identity of Sunni fundamentalist that strongly influence by
Wahabbism.
4. Iran’s Protection toward Shiite Identity
The implementation of ISIS identity as Sunni wahabbism inside the insurgency
they do in Iraq plays important role as a constrain that constructivism believe it is the
precondition to shape the behavior of the actor in this case is Iran. Iran decision in 12th
June 2014 to send its special troops called as Quds forces became the starting point of
its military intervention in Iraq in the case of Iraq conflict against ISIS. It is decided
because of ISIS’s operations in Iraq which openly destructs the symbol of Shiite identity
such as holy shrines of Shiite and targeting holy places such as Najaf, Karbala and
Samarra and majorly kills Shiite Iraq, constrain Iran to do an action to protect those
holy shrines and stop the massive killing of Shiite Muslim in Iraq. The bond as Shiite
country between Iran and Iraq make Iran see Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) as
not only enemy of Iraq but also its own enemy that openly attacking both Iran and Iraq
identity as Shiite country. The sacred and holy places that continuously being targeted
by ISIS is equal to the violation toward Iran’s identity as Shiite country as Iran also sees
those places as its sacred and holy places.
Therefore the strong reason why Iran helps Iraq trough military intervention to
fight against ISIS is because of Iran’s identity as Shiite country. That reason can be
clearly seen from the statement that stated by president Rouhani regarding Iran’s stance
toward the ISIS attack upon Iraq, in 17th
June 2014 he stated that “Regarding the holy
Shiite shrines in Karbala, Najaf, Kadhimiya and Samara, we announced to the killers
and terrorists that the big Iranian nation will not hesitate to protect holy shrines”
(Donaghi, 2014).
The other statement from President Rouhani that also clearly reflected its
intention to help Iraq because of Identity reasons found in his interview with NBC that
taking place on September 18th
2014, he stated that: “When we say the red line we mean
the red line. It means we will not allow Baghdad to be occupied by the terrorists or the
religious sites such as Karbala or Najaf be occupied by the terrorists” (United States
Institute of Peace The Iran Primer, 2014). That statement shows clear indication that
Iran helps Iraq in the aspect of protection toward the sacred symbol of Shiite identity in
Iraq.The important statement as the further statement of above statement was delivered
by Iranian Interior Minister, Abdol Reza Rahmani Fazli, he stated that:
One day they brought news that there is a possibility that Karbala and Najaf would fall.
At that session, the president said that this is our red line and if something like this
happens there will be no limit to our operations. We had a timely presence, and there
were days we were worried about the fall of pilgrimage cities (United States Institute of
Peace The Iran Primer, 2014).
From those above statements, it clearly shows that Iran’s decision to help Iraq in
fighting ISIS has grand reason based on the Shiite identity embodied in Iran as a State.
It also shows that the identity of Iran as Shiite country influenced by its decision to help
Iraq. As what constructivism stated that the identity will determine how certain actors
behave and use their material aspect.
The other fact that able to prove that Iran’s identity as the Shiite country is the
reasons behind its military intervention in Iraq in the case of ISIS can be found also in
the form of operation of Quds Force, the special force of Iran. In doing its operations
Quds force has been known as the special force of Iran which expert in the clandestine
operations to fuel Shiite Revolution in Iraq (Smith, 2007). While in its current operation
they still work in the base of Shiite identity which is helps Iraq to train, organize and
coordinate Shiite force as well as politically strengthen support Shiite militants for the
Iraqi government (Smith, 2007). Moreover the approximately 2000 advances troops
spread to join battle in crucial city such as Ramadi, Mosul, Anbar, Tikrit and the most
important thing the troops mainly concentrates in the holy areas such as Najaf, Karbala
and Samarra as well as Baghdad (Chulov, Iran Sends Troops into Iraq to Aid Fight
against ISIS Militants, 2014).
The form of operations of Quds Force is clearly proved that Iran’s identity as
Shiite country implemented in the body of its special forces. As what constructivism
stated that the identity will not formed if it is not accompanied by the practices of that
structures. What Quds Force does in Iraq currently is a clear prove of Iran exercising
their value of Shiite identity in its military structures. What Quds force did reflected that
the reasons behind its deployment is because of Iran’s identity as Shiite country that feel
violated by the destruction over Shiite identity cause by ISIS insurgency.
B. Protection toward Iran’s Shiite Political Influence in Iraq
The other aspect that become the strong reason why Iran help Iraq by military
intervention in the Iraq’s conflict against Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) is that
because since post-Saddam power in Iraq, Iran has strong Shiite political Influence in
Iraq. Since the fall of Saddam Hussein, Iraq has been one of Iran’s foreign policy
priorities. With the downfall of Saddam Hussein there was big chance to shape Iraq’s
identity to be pro-Iran.
1. The Creation of Iran-Iraq Shiite Political Alliance
The foreign policy of Iran at post-Saddam period was focused on the goal to
make Iraq as its political ally. In Iran’s effort to make Iraq as its political ally, it shows
clearly that Iran exercising strategy of sectarian politic inside Iraq. In order to achieve
that goal Iran was actively involved to influence Iraqi politics trough cooperation with
Shiite and Kurdish in order to change Iraq from Sunni based government to the Shiite
dominated government (Eisenstadt, Knights, & Ali, 2011).
It is important to know that in the Iraq political nuance, Iran has strong influence
in some of the Shiite group and actors. The strong Shiite actors in Iraq that have strong
Iranian influence are (Fuller, 2003):
1. The famous Shiite clerics Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani who also Iranian original but
spend most of his life in the city of Najaf. He did not actively rejected Saddam
trough political involvement but he implemented the strategy of Quiteism.
Quitesim is a conscious that based on the cleric’s need to distance his self from
the political and active only as observer and creates critics of politic and social
events.
2. Supreme Council of Islamic Revolution in Iraq which led by Ayatollah
Muhammad Baqir al-Hakim who get backed by Iran in creation of his Shiite
militias called as Badr Brigade. He also had known from his close association
with Iran as he gave his support to Iran during the Iran-Iraq eight-year war.
3. The Dawa Party, the oldest Shiite movement in Iraq that had known as one of
supporter of Iran’s revolution in 1979.
One of Iran’s efforts to influence Iraq political to be pro-Iranian is that Iran
actively encouraged Supreme Council of Iraq with its Badr forces and the Dawa Party to
be more active inside Iraq’s politics and help Iran to shape Iraq’s government institution
to be more pro-Shiite institution (Eisenstadt, Knights, & Ali, 2011). With the
involvement of those important Shiite structures inside Iraq, Iran tried to make society
of Iraq as its target of political influence (Eisenstadt, Knights, & Ali, 2011). In more
practical way, in order to shape Iraq to become its strong political ally, Iran actively try
to influence the outcome of important elections after the downfall of Saddam Hussein,
such as Iraqi parliamentary election in 2005 and 2010.
In 2005, Ibrahim al-Jaafari become the prime minister of Iraq and before
succeeded to be Iraq’s prime minister he was spokesman of Islamic Dawa Party. As
mentioned before, the Dawa Party is the party that got high support from Iran to be
actively involved in Iraq’s politics and the Dawa Party also known as party inside Iraq
that highly supported Iran’s revolution in 1979 (Sahimi, 2013). In 2005 Iraqi
parliamentary election, Ibrahim al-Jaafari was the leader of the United Iraq Alliance
(UIA), a coalition that consist of several important Shiite party an organization such as
Dawa Party, Supreme Council of Islamic Revolution in Iraq, Badr Organization,
Sadrist, Islamic Fadhila Party and some other small Shiite parties (Eisenstadt, Knights,
& Ali, 2011). Seeing from the member of UIA, the majority of it member were the
Shiite Party and Organization that supported by Iran, therefore UIA itself enjoyed
support from Iran.
At that time United Iraqi Alliance (UIA) won the majority vote in the elections
and become the actor that had strong power to shape Iraqi political nuance. In its
administration time in Iraqi government, it noted that in making decision UIA shows the
effort to balancing its interest and Iran’s interest (Eisenstadt, Knights, & Ali, 2011). The
clear fact that Iran exercising its influence over Iraqi political trough UIA is that UIA
created the timetable for United States of America military withdrawal based on the Iran
demand (Eisenstadt, Knights, & Ali, 2011).
In 2010 Iraqi parliamentary election, the block led by Ayad Allawi won majority
seats in the parliamentary, but surprisingly it was not Allawi who became the prime
minister. Instead of Allawi, Nouri al-Maliki became the new Prime Minister of Iraq in
2010, and that result came out due to the Iran pressure. The result of election that made
Nouri al-Maliki as the Prime minister of Iraq in December 2010 has known as the effort
of Iran to unify its Shiite political ally (Israel News, 2014). The fact shows that to
prevent Ayad Allawi to form a new government of Iraq at that time Iran invited Nouri
al-Maliki’s Party, State Law Alliance (SLA) and also United Iraqi Alliance (UIA) to
have a meeting with Iran to create one single coalition called as National Alliance
(Eisenstadt, Knights, & Ali, 2011). Through that coalition Nouri al-Maliki finally was
able to become prime minister until August 2014 period.
Based on the effort done by Iran to strengthen its political bond with Iraq since
the post United States of America invasion in Iraq in 2003 that already explained
before, it is clear that Iran’s foreign policy’s intention toward Iraq was highly colored
by the Shiite sectarian strategy. In the hand of Saddam Hussein who was the
representative of Baath party, Iraq ideologically was strategic enemy of Iran. Therefore
Iran’s foreign policy at that time was focused on how to prevent Iraq from gaining
power that would be able to create threat toward Iran as like what happen in First
Persian Gulf War.
To achieve that intension Iran’s attempted to establish friendly relations with
Iraq by enhancing Shiite-dominated government in Iraq. When Iraq’s identity changes
into Shiite based country it will make Iraq become ally of Iran as its share same identity
with Iran. That effort proved to be successful to increase Iran’s Shiite political tied and
succeeded to make Iraq as its strong ally.
Seeing from the characteristic of Iran’s foreign policy in its effort to make Iraq
as its strategic ally, Iran was highly influenced by its identity as Shiite state. The foreign
policy strategy that implemented by Iran to increase its political influence in Iraq after
Saddam Hussein power was in line with the idea of constructivism. Constructivism
believes that the behavior of certain actor will highly determine by its identity, therefore
when particular actor’s identity changed, it will be followed by the change of its
behavior. In this case, Iran foreign policy strategy was focused on how to change Iraq
political nuance from Sunni based government to Shiite based government and therefore
Iraq’s behavior toward Iran will also change from enemy to be ally and guarantee that
past bad memory of eight year war between Iran and Iraq will never happen again.
2. Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) Threat toward Iran-Iraq
Shiite Political Alliance
The shocking and rapid insurgency done by Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham
(ISIS) to occupy some strategic territories of Iraq and also tries to achieve its goal to
establish Islamic State based on their ideology which is Sunni fundamentalist in Iraq is
a clear threat toward Iran’s Shiite political influence in Iraq. The threat clearly shows
from the ISIS main goal to change Iraq to be Islamic State that based on Sunni Islam.
Seeing its goal from constructivism perspective, it clearly shows the indication of effort
to change the identity of Iraq, and then the identity change will be follow by the change
of behavior. ISIS identity is strongly affiliated with the Wahhabism, the branch of Sunni
Islam that strongly declares war against Shiite. If finally Iraq falls into ISIS power,
indeed Iraq will no longer become the political ally for Iran because its identity will
change from pro-Iran identity which is Shiite based country to be fundamental Sunni
state country that strongly opposes Shiite identity.
Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) will do any effort to change Iraq’s
identity to be based on Sunni fundamentalist ideology. It will eliminate all Shiite
influence inside Iraqi political nuance, because according to them Shiite is a deviation
toward Islamic value that needs to be eliminate. In ISIS 2014 insurgency in Iraq, it
already shows its intention to strengthen its identity’s influence to Sunni Muslim of
Iraq. ISIS insurgency that mainly targeting Shiite government in Iraq makes Sunni
Muslim in Iraq sees them as a group that will liberate them from Shiite government
suppression.
The Iraqi government that highly Shiite based has engaged in the action of
suppressing Sunni Muslim of Iraq. Iraqi government actively suppress Sunnis trough in
serial actions such as beating, imprisoning, and arresting Sunnis (Beauchamp, 17
Things About ISIS and Iraq You Need To Know, 2014). Prime Minister al-Maliki
himself, refuse to accommodate Sunnis. Iraqi government treats Sunnis harshly by
killing peaceful Sunnis protestor and used anti-terrorism law to justify mass-arrest to
Sunnis civilian (Beauchamp, 17 Things About ISIS and Iraq You Need To Know,
2014). Through that fact ISIS gains support from Sunni Muslim of Iraq, as they will not
give support for government that violate their right. ISIS and Sunni Muslim of Iraq
surprisingly see Iraq government as their common enemy.
Therefore, there is a high probability that it will strongly creates enmities toward
other states that according to ISIS is state deviates Islam value and the state that it
believes attacks Islamic value. Iran will highly disadvantageous if Iraq falls into ISIS
hand because it sees Iraq as its important ally and also country that has big influence in
establishing Shiite based government in Iraq. Iran’s effort to make Iraq as its strategic
ally will be devastated as Iraq will be back to the condition where it is capable to launch
enmities toward Iran as what happen when Iraq in the hand of Saddam Hussein.
The possibility to share same border with the Iraq that lead by extremist
fundamentalist Sunni terrorist and insurgent group such as ISIS is also future threat
toward Iran’s national defend and sovereignty as ISIS identity clearly shows its
intention to be enemy of Shiite Islam and it will be easy for ISIS to attack Iran anytime
as Iraq and Iran shares direct border.
3. Iran’s Protection toward Iran-Iraq Shiite Political Alliance
Based on the constructivism theory in analyzing the reasons behind 2014 Iran’s
military intervention in the case of Iraq conflict against Islamic State of Iraq and al-
Sham (ISIS) insurgency this paper believe that one of the reason why Iran does that is
because of trough military intervention Iran tries to do protection toward its Shiite
political influence in Iraq that threaten by ISIS as what already explained before. The
military intervention undergoes by Iran to help Iraq fighting against ISIS shows clear
indication that Iran’s identity as Shiite based country influence its strategy to deal with
threat from ISIS over Iran’s interest in Iraq. Iran’s interest in this case is that Iran’s
Shiite political alliance that is able to maintain Iran and Iraq friendly relations. Iran’s
2014 military intervention in Iraq to help Iraq fighting against ISIS clearly shows an
effort to protect the Iraq identity as Shiite based country, because the protection of
Iraq’s identity as Shiite country is equal to its protection toward its influence in Iraq.
Iran’s influence in Iraq will stand only if Iraq identity as Shiite country preserved. The
indication of Iran’s interest to protect Shiite identity of Iraq clearly shows in the
operation of Iran’s Quds force.
The prime minister of Iraq’s at the time when Iran’s sent its special Quds force
to Iraq was Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, the one who succeeded to be Iraq’s prime
minister because of the support and influence of Iran. Therefore it is logic that as entity
that involve in the struggle to make Nouri al-Maliki as Prime Minister, Iran involve in
the struggle to protect the Iraqi government from Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham
attack.
Even though finally Nouri al-Maliki step down from his position as Prime
Minister of Iraq on 14th
of August 2014 and replaced by Haider al-Abadi there is no
change in Iran’s foreign policy to help Iraq trough military intervention. It is noted that
Iran is country that firstly congratulates al-Abadi as the candidate of new Prime
Minister (Israel News, 2014). The acceptance of Iran toward Haider al-Abadi is
reasonable because of Haider al-Abadi is new Prime Minister who originally come from
the Dawa Party, therefore the replacement of Maliki by al-Abadi still in line with Iran
and Iraq political alliance (Madi, 2014).
The troop that deploys by Iran as its support for Iraqi government is special
Iran’s force called as Quds force in which known as the revolutionary guard of Iran that
actively supports Shiite militias in Iraq. Quds force operation in Iraq to support Iraq
forces to fight against ISIS also known doing an effort to preserve and strengthen and
gather support for the Iraqi government from Shiite militias. Quds force work to balance
Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham effort in gathering support from Sunni by
strengthening Shiite support for the government.
The majority of Iran’s troops concentrate in the holy places of Iraq such as
Najaf, Karbala and Samara as well as Baghdad. It shows clearly that Iran will protect
important cities that become symbolic of Shiite identity and also Baghdad from ISIS.
Baghdad is the symbol of central government, if Bagdad fall into ISIS’s hand its mean
that overall Iraq fall into ISIS, and Iran will not let that happen to preserve its Shiite
political influence.
The Foreign Minister of Iran, Mohammad Javad Zarif’s statement in his
interview with Amanpour from CNN clearly indicated that Islamic State of Iraq and al-
Sham (ISIS) insurgency in Iraq is also threat toward Iran. When Amanpour asked him
about how ISIS threatens Iran, he answered:
To Iran, too. Iran is a part of this region. We don't like instability in our neighborhood.
Inside Iran, we are probably best protected from such waves of extremism than any of
our neighbors. All our neighbors are more vulnerable to this threat than Iran is
internally. But for us, our domestic security is inseparable from security of the
region. So for us a secure Iraq, a secure Persian Gulf, a secure Afghanistan is as
important as our own security (United States Institute of Peace The Iran Primer, 2014).
From above statement we can conclude that Iran see the instability that happen in Iraq
because of ISIS will impact Iran stability too. Therefore Iran needs to do an action to
protect Iraq to be secure from ISIS and for Iran. The secure Iran will be achieved if Iran
able to protect its Shiite political influence in Iran, and Iran’s Shiite political influence
will be protected if Iran able to help Iraq to preserve its identity as Shiite country.
Conclusion
In conclusion, all of the findings from this study regarding the reason behind
Iran’s military intervention to help Iraq fighting against ISIS were proven through
analyzing the identity of Iran’s as the subject of this paper. It is exactly consistent with
the theory of constructivism that being used by this paper which believes that the
identity and value inherent inside the identity is able to influence the behavior of certain
actor. In this study, Military Intervention is Iran’s form of behavior toward the Islamic
State of Iraq and al-Sham in Iraq. The reason behind why Iran acts that way is because
of Iran’s attempts to protect its identity symbol and fellow Shiite follower in Iraq from
ISIS as well as to protect its Shiite political alliance with Iraq that in future will
diminish if ISIS success to take over the whole Iraq.
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