Terrorism is among the most significant problems in the world today, and its form of manifestation and technological use has continuously undergone significant changes. Terrorist organizations differ in their motives, organizational structures, leadership styles, method of operations, and their ideologies. However, most often, terrorists are influenced by their religious viewpoints. There are two categories of terrorist attacks; domestic and transnational. Domestic terrorism happens when the attack is by the citizens and in their own country. In contrast, transnational terrorism occurs when the attack in one nation involves governments, institutions, or perpetrators of another country. Although terrorism is generalized, there are different typologies and classification of terrorist organizations.
State terrorism is a politically, ideologically or religiously motivated violence carried out by agents of a state against persons or groups—for example, a military war directed against unprepared targets. The bombing of Pearl Harbor and London during World War II was an act of state terrorism. State-sponsored terrorism can refer to a government that supports terrorists to attack another government, or it can conduct terrorism against another government. It can also mean governments using terrorist acts to attack its citizens. State-enabled terrorism is where the terrorist group is an agent of the government. The government uses it to terrorize another state. They are provided with operational support, intelligence, and logistics, usually through diplomatic missions. Left-wing terrorism is also referred to as Marxist-Leninist terrorism, and it aims to overthrow the capitalist system and put in its stead Marxist-Leninist societies. It happens in socialist states, and it is usually against a ruling government. Right-wing terrorism is inspired by different ideologies such as neo-Nazism, white nationalism, religious nationalism, and white separatism. Right-wing terrorists aim to remove the ruling government and reinstate nationalist or fascist regimes. They are motivated by Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. However, right-wing terrorists have no rigid ideology.
Iran is an active “state sponsor” of terrorism globally. It began terrorism attacks in 1979 since it became an Islamic state. Terrorism in Iraq is an essential portion of its military and foreign policies. Its leaders view terrorism as an essential tool for accomplishing the country’s political objectives. The President and the government of Iran approve and support all significant terrorist operations/attacks. The goal of Iranian-sponsored terrorism is punishing the rivals of the Islamic regime. It also aims to expand Islamic movement in the Gulf region. Iran views terrorism as a way of attacking its enemies that may not cause any direct punishment to the Islamic Republic. Although state-sponsored terrorism has, in recent years, declined, the number of terrorist attacks sponsored by Iran has increased since Rafsanjani became the President. Iranian government provides intelligence to the terrorist group through The Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS). The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) supports terrorist operations. The Qods force provides training and money to the terrorist groups it sponsors and collects information needed to plan the attack. The ministry of foreign Affairs provided the terrorist operations with diplomatic covers and assisted in the importation of explosives and weapons. One Iranian sponsored group is the Islamic group, which was responsible for the attack of the World Trade Center.
Iran Sanctions
Since 1979 when the U.S Embassy in Tehran was seized, heavy restrictions have been imposed on Iran by the United States. It has forced an arms ban and a complete economic prohibition on Iran, such as heavy penalties on any country that does business with Iran. All Iranian imports have been banned. Moreover, the United States has imposed penalties on Iranian financial institutions. The United States has also banned the sale to Iranian aviation companies of any aircraft or its repair parts. Any country that wants to do business with Iran must get a license from the Treasury Department. For example, in 2011, the United States imposed heavy penalties on Iran Air and Tidewater Middle East Co, which is owned by a terrorist group known as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The United States also targets Iran’s energy sector, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, and the Iranian Cyber Police. Companies and individuals that transact with Iranians are prohibited from doing any business in the United States. These sanctions affect Iran’s economy because most countries fear being sanctioned by the United States or being prohibited from doing business in America.
Iran has, for a long time, been providing terrorist groups such as HAMAS, the PIJ, Hizballah, and Islamic groups with a haven. Iran can never be taken off the list of a state sponsor of terrorism because it willingly and without any reason does sponsor terrorists. Moreover, it has government agencies that are tasked with the responsibility of sponsoring the terrorists.
Iran is a failed state because it is not able to provide public services to its people. The sanctions imposed have affected its economy significantly. The country is faced with corruption issues even in government sectors, which have made it lose control of its territory, and legitimate authority is eroded by political instability. The only wave that related to the g Islamic group is the religious wave, which began in 1979 to date—Islamic group targets none Islamic nations and people.
Terrorism has been one of the most significant issues in the world. Some countries use terrorist groups to get back on their rival states. They sponsor terrorists by providing them money, training, weapons, explosives, and safe havens. Some governments sponsor terrorist groups to attack political groups in their country that pose a risk of overthrowing it. Iran is