RNA - In last year's list, movements up and down the rankings had more to do with foreign policy missteps than with any actual achievements, the American Interest reported.
In last year's list most of the great powers saw their ability to control events beyond and sometimes within their boundaries decline. But Iran was an exception, as it gained strength thanks to its diplomatic successes and the consequences of Russian intervention in Syria.
Standing after the United States of America, China, Japan, Russia, Germany and India, the report ranked Iran in the 7th place.
"The proxy wars between Saudi Arabia and Iran continued unabated throughout 2016, and as we enter the new year Iran has confidently taken the lead. Saudi Arabia remains a formidable power, but it was Iran that pulled ahead in the last 12 months," it said.
"Throughout 2016, Iranian proxies were on the march across the Middle East...," it said, and added, "In Lebanon, Tehran rejoiced at the growing clout of Hezbollah and the election of Shi’a-friendly Michel Aoun, while the Saudis bitterly cut off aid in a sign of their diminishing influence in Beirut."
"And in Syria, Shiite militias helped to retake Aleppo and turn the tide for Assad," the American Interest said, and continued, "Iran was also gaining ground in Iraq. More disquieting than all this, from the Saudi perspective, were developments in Yemen. Iran-backed forces took the fight to the Saudi-backed government in a war that has already claimed 10,000 lives."
Iran has repeatedly reiterated that it has neither sent troops or advisors nor supplied arms or other types of financial and logistical aids to the Yemenis, stressing that it will continue rendering political support for the war-stricken people, though.
"Meanwhile, the fruits of the nuclear deal continued to roll in: high-profile deals with Boeing and Airbus sent the message that Iran was open for business, while Tehran rapidly ramped up its oil output to pre-sanctions levels."
Yet, the report foresees 2017 as probably a more difficult year for Tehran with President Donald Trump in office.
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