Iranian Proxies: Their Impacts on Regional Stability and Geopolitics

Abstract

The Islamic Republic of Iran has increasingly relied on a network of proxy organizations to extend its influence and deter external threats across the Middle East. This article examines the political and military activities of Iran-backed groups Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) in Iraq, the Houthis in Yemen, and Hamas in Palestine and evaluates their cumulative impact on regional stability and geopolitical realignment. Drawing upon the theoretical frameworks of Realism and Hybrid Warfare, the study employs a qualitative comparative case study approach to analyze the intersection of ideology, strategic depth, and asymmetrical power projection. The findings reveal that Iran’s proxy network constitutes both a tool of deterrence and a source of structural instability, simultaneously preventing foreign hegemony while eroding the sovereignty of regional states. The research argues that Iranian proxies form an interlinked “Axis of Resistance” that functions as a parallel security architecture reshaping Middle Eastern geopolitics. The study concludes by highlighting the dual implications of this phenomenon for regional order stabilization through deterrence and destabilization through perpetual conflict and offers policy and theoretical recommendations for managing proxy-driven hybrid wars.