The Islamic Republic of Iran’s Networking Diplomacy: The Role of Ahl-ul-Bayt World Assembly (ABWA)

Abstract

The 1979 Iranian Revolution entailed establishing Iran’s hegemony
in the region and promotion of shi’ite doctrinal values in the Muslim world.
The Iranian State under the leadersip of Ayatullah Khomeini was tasked to
design a strategy of organizing and connecting the non-Iranian Shi’ites and
Sunnite sympathisers of the revolution particulary in the Muslim world with the
Islamic Republic of Iran. Networking with the non-Iranian Shi’ites and Sunnite
sympathizers of the revolution was crucial for support for Iran’s hegemony and
export of the revolution. The Islamic Republic established Ahl-ul-bayt World
Assembly (ABWA) to carry out its networking diplomacy. ABWA’s objectives,
networking strategies and activities in Afghanistan and Malaysia suggest that
the non-Iranian Shi’ites and Sunnite sympathizers of the Revoltion are political
and strategic asset and Iran under the guise of the narrative of exporting
revoltion expects their loyalty and sympathy rather than to the state of their
citizenship and residence. Unlike Malaysia, ABWA’s networking activity in
Afghanistan also entails integrating the Afghan Shi’ites into sensitive positions
in the post-Taliban political system, indeed a breach of the claim that ABWA is
apolitical and neutral institution.