Riyadh-WAS
The Arabian Gulf Center for Iranian Studies held a workshop titled “The Iranian Military Institution between the State and the Revolution” in Riyadh on Sun. May 7th, 2017.
Mohammed Alsulami (Ph.D.), head of the AGCIS center said that the Middle East region is going through the serious military, security, and geopolitical transformations. Some of the Middle East countries such as Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen are consumed by civil wars and instability, leading to the emergence of several armed groups. Alsulami added that sectarianism and terrorism are inseparable and true challenges for the region and the world. “In order to eradicate these dangers, we have to eliminate the reasons behind them,” he said. “Many experts and specialists believe that Iran plays a major role in threatening the security of the Middle East countries, escalating the sectarian conflicts, and the emergence of terrorist groups through the Revolutionary Guards, Al-Quds Division, the sectarian militias, the sleeping and active cells, espionage cells, and others.”
Alsulami continued, “This workshop is held in light of the acceleration and complexity of events to understand the other side; its capabilities and concerns, points of strength and weakness, and direct and indirect tools within the framework of think tanks and studies centers.”
According to Alsulami, eminent experts, researchers, and military leaders in the Gulf and Arab region participated in the workshop to have a clear idea and substantial scientific reader of the Iranian military in the context of the state and the revolution on the internal and external levels in all aspects; economic, ideological, military, and social.
The workshop handled three focal points; the first discussed the Iranian combat capabilities, deployment plans and duties, and the ideological factor of the Iranian military and its economic activities. The second point was titled, “The Military and Balance of Political Powers in Iran.” It discussed the political role of the Iranian military in the legislation process, its practices, communication channels with the society, and its military doctrine in light of the two divisions of Iran’s military (the Army and the Revolutionary Guards.)
The third focal point was “Iran’s Military and the World.” It discussed the Iranian military activities outside the Iranian borders and the international sanctions imposed on the Iranian military.
