Within this context, the issue of what became known as the “regional arms” comes to the forefront. For many years, these networks were considered a central part of Iran’s deterrence strategy. However, the military, financial, political, and security costs associated with them have grown larger than their returns. Increasing segments of Iranian society have begun to question the usefulness of continuing to drain resources beyond Iran’s borders at a time when the country is facing severe economic and social challenges.
