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Iran–Libya relations

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Iran and Libya relations
Map indicating locations of Iran and Libya

Iran
Libya

Iran and Libya have diplomatic relations, with embassies in each other's countries. Economic, military, and cultural relations between the two countries have varied throughout time. Ties between the two nations date back thousands of years, with the origins of the Persian Empire beginning in the modern day state of Iran and the modern day Libyan state once being an essential part of the Roman Empire.

Pahlavi government

Modern Iranian-Libyan relations began in the 1960s with King Idris reigning in Libya and the Shah (Mohammad Reza Pahlavi) reigning in Iran. Tension began between the two nations following the rise of Colonel Muammar Ghadafi in Libya. Ghadafi, along with other Arab leaders, accused the Shah of betraying his Arab neighbors’ interests and supporting Israel.[1][2]

After the Iranian revolution

Before the Libyan revolution

The Iranian revolution of 1979 resulted in the overthrow of the Shah and the improvement of Iranian-Libyan relations.[1] The turning point in Iran–Libya relations came during the Iran-Iraq War, when Libya came to Iran's aid despite western pressure to keep Iran isolated. During the war Libya and Syria were Iran's only middle eastern allies.[3][4][5]

Iranian-Libyan cooperation during the 1990s led to the construction of factories, roads, and hospitals in both Libya and Iran. Ghadafi would even visit then Iranian president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei. At the UN Security Council, Ghadafi vindicated Iran's nuclear program and opposed western sanctions against the Islamic Republic.[1] However, relations between the two nations would again become strained following the kidnapping and probable murder of the influential Shia leader Musa al Sadr in Libya.[6]

After the Libyan revolution

Iran supported the 2011 uprising against the Libyan government, describing it as an "Islamic awakening" and condemning the government crackdown.[7] The Libyan ambassador to Iran later resigned due to the Arab Spring protests in his home country.[8] Following the overthrow of Ghadafi, Iran recognized the new Libyan transitional government. Iran's ambassador would soon return to the newly formed Arab Republic of Libya.

Iran-Libyan Arab Jamahiriya relations
Map indicating locations of Iran and Libyan Arab Jamahiriya

Iran
Libya

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Zephyr, Alexander. Psalm 83: A New Discovery. iUniverse (November 13, 2014). ISBN 978-1491750742.
  2. ^ Zonis, Marvin Majestic Failure The Fall of the Shah, Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1991 page 199.
  3. ^ SCIOLINO, ELAINE. "IRAN, IN 6-YEAR SEARCH FOR ARMS, FINDS WORLD OF WILLING SUPPLIERS". nytimes.
  4. ^ ELLEMAN, MICHAEL. "North Korea-Iran Missile Cooperation".
  5. ^ Alexander, Cordesman, Alexander, Anthony H. Iran and the Gulf Military Balance. Center for Strategic and International Studies, 2011.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ Nasr, Vali (2006). The Shia Revival: How Conflicts within Islam Will Shape the Future. W. W. Norton & Company; Reprint edition (April 17, 2007). ISBN 978-0393329681.
  7. ^ "Iran Backs Libyan Rebels, Chastises West Over Oil, Bahrain". PBS. 6 April 2011.
  8. ^ "Libyan Ambassador to Iran resigns".
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