Abstract:
This article aims at analyzing the existing perceptions andactions among the Iranian officials towards the 2011 Arab revolutions. Whereas the foreign policy is influenced by subjective and objective factors, perceptions of the Iranian senior officials and the actions taken within the framework of the foreign policy arc of great importance. It is believed that two kinds of perception exist among the Iranian officials, which has led to a dual foreign policy. While the Supreme Leader believes that the Middle East developments are inspired by the Islamic Revolution of Iran and are of an Islamic nature, the executive, particularly, the President withholds the opinion that the so stated developments derived from a U.S.-Israeli conspiracy aiming at dividing and undermining the Islamic world. These two different perceptions have led to two types of measures observed in the foreign policy of Iran. The consequence of the first perception is the widespread support of people's political struggles in the region, establishment and development of relations at a societal level, whereas the second perception has resulted in a strengthening of ties between Tehran and the states in the region so as to prevent the instability and division of these states.
Machine summary:
"In this section, it is asserted that at least two perceptions exist among the officials of the Islamic Republic oflran regarding these developments, which are as follows: first, the view held by the Supreme Leader that the Middle East developments are derived from the Islamic Revolution of Iran and are largely of a religious and Islamic nature, though they have been manifested through economic and social demands; second, the prevailing view held by the executive branch, particularly the presidency, according to which, the stated upheavals are a result of a U.
Table 9: Actions Taken in Order to Establish Relations at a Social Level (View the image of this page) Holding the fifth International Conference on the Palestinian Intifada The presence of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamanei among the participants in the conference Explaining the future problems, offering solutions for the challenges of the new Middle East and evaluating the developments of the Islamic Spring http:// www.
ir 45 (View the image of this page) 8 The official envoy's first visit 12 'the Central Council of the World Assembly ofislamic Awakening' which was renamed as 'the Consultative Council of the World Assembly of Islamic Awakening' (View the image of this page) http:// • Actions taken by the supporters of the second perception The stance of this group can be observed in Ahmadinejad's meetings and the visits made by the foreign minister who repeatedly emphasized the stability of regional states and Iran's plans to strengthen the relations with them."