Strategies and Behavioral Patterns of Iraqi Kurdistan in the Iran-Israel Confrontation

Iraqi Kurdistan has adopted an independent foreign policy from the Iraqi central government in the past two decades. This foreign policy is based on a different model and strategy that aims at independence. In this regard, considering the importance and determinant nature of Iran s regional policy in the face of regional developments such as the disintegration of neighboring countries along with Tehran s position on the independence of Iraqi Kurdistan, Erbil is leveraging a strategic model of balance of threat towards the confrontation between Tehran and Tel Aviv. Accordingly, the present study seeks to explain why and how this strategy is adopted by the Iraqi Kurdistan towards the confrontation between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Zionist regime. Therefore, the main question is, What is the rationale for Iraqi Kurdistan to understand the Iranian threat? The hypothesis is that due to its historical components, different organizational and social identities, differences in power levels, and personal factors (mindsets of the leaders), the Iraqi Kurdistan sees the Islamic Republic of Iran as an obstacle in the way of realization of its independence. Therefore, Iraqi Kurdistan, in the Zionism-Iranian confrontation, pursues a unique strategy based on the balance of threats. This essay is an analytical-explanatory study that has been done using a combination of theoretical frameworks of balance of threat and constructivism. Furthermore, the research method in this essay is based on trend analysis.