Zahid Shahab Ahmed is Associate Professor at National Defence College of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi. Dr. Ali Akbar is a lecturer and researcher at the University of Melbourne in Australia where he received his PhD in Islamic Studies. He is an expert in the fields of Islamic Studies with a focus on contemporary Islamic thought and Middle Eastern politics as well as Iranian politics with a focus on Iran’s foreign policy in the Middle East and beyond. He is co-author of Iran’s Soft Power in Afghanistan and Pakistan (Edinburgh University Press, 2023) as well as lead author of Contemporary Approaches to the Qur’an and Its Interpretation in Iran (Routledge, 2020) and sole author of Contemporary Perspectives on Revelation and Qur’anic Hermeneutics (Edinburgh University Press, 2020). In addition to these books, Dr. Akbar has published extensively in top-tier journals including Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations, British Journal of Middle East Studies, Iranian Studies, Mediterranean Politics, Third Word Quarterly and Political Theology.

• List of Abbreviations Acknowledgements 1. Introduction 2. Historical Legacy 3. Iranian Fears and National Interest 4. Geostrategic Interests 5. Cultural and Ideological Influences 6. Iran’s Political Influence 7. Economic Relations and Influence 8. Recruitment: Shi’a Brigades in Syria 9. Conclusion Annexure 1: Afghan Participants Annexure 2: Pakistani Participants BibliographyIndex

Soft power is not the exclusive preserve of superstates like the US and China in influencing the world around them. Focusing on Iran this new book spotlights the ways Iran brings soft power to bear on neighbouring Afghanistan and Pakistan in shaping the cultural, economic and strategic relations in its immediate region.

Zahid Shahab Ahmed is Associate Professor at National Defence College of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi. Dr. Ali Akbar is a lecturer and researcher at the University of Melbourne in Australia where he received his PhD in Islamic Studies. He is an expert in the fields of Islamic Studies with a focus on contemporary Islamic thought and Middle Eastern politics as well as Iranian politics with a focus on Iran’s foreign policy in the Middle East and beyond. He is co-author of Iran’s Soft Power in Afghanistan and Pakistan (Edinburgh University Press, 2023) as well as lead author of Contemporary Approaches to the Qur’an and Its Interpretation in Iran (Routledge, 2020) and sole author of Contemporary Perspectives on Revelation and Qur’anic Hermeneutics (Edinburgh University Press, 2020). In addition to these books, Dr. Akbar has published extensively in top-tier journals including Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations, British Journal of Middle East Studies, Iranian Studies, Mediterranean Politics, Third Word Quarterly and Political Theology.

• List of Abbreviations Acknowledgements 1. Introduction 2. Historical Legacy 3. Iranian Fears and National Interest 4. Geostrategic Interests 5. Cultural and Ideological Influences 6. Iran’s Political Influence 7. Economic Relations and Influence 8. Recruitment: Shi’a Brigades in Syria 9. Conclusion Annexure 1: Afghan Participants Annexure 2: Pakistani Participants BibliographyIndex

Soft power is not the exclusive preserve of superstates like the US and China in influencing the world around them. Focusing on Iran this new book spotlights the ways Iran brings soft power to bear on neighbouring Afghanistan and Pakistan in shaping the cultural, economic and strategic relations in its immediate region.

Zahid Shahab Ahmed is Associate Professor at National Defence College of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi. Dr. Ali Akbar is a lecturer and researcher at the University of Melbourne in Australia where he received his PhD in Islamic Studies. He is an expert in the fields of Islamic Studies with a focus on contemporary Islamic thought and Middle Eastern politics as well as Iranian politics with a focus on Iran’s foreign policy in the Middle East and beyond. He is co-author of Iran’s Soft Power in Afghanistan and Pakistan (Edinburgh University Press, 2023) as well as lead author of Contemporary Approaches to the Qur’an and Its Interpretation in Iran (Routledge, 2020) and sole author of Contemporary Perspectives on Revelation and Qur’anic Hermeneutics (Edinburgh University Press, 2020). In addition to these books, Dr. Akbar has published extensively in top-tier journals including Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations, British Journal of Middle East Studies, Iranian Studies, Mediterranean Politics, Third Word Quarterly and Political Theology.

• List of Abbreviations Acknowledgements 1. Introduction 2. Historical Legacy 3. Iranian Fears and National Interest 4. Geostrategic Interests 5. Cultural and Ideological Influences 6. Iran’s Political Influence 7. Economic Relations and Influence 8. Recruitment: Shi’a Brigades in Syria 9. Conclusion Annexure 1: Afghan Participants Annexure 2: Pakistani Participants BibliographyIndex

Soft power is not the exclusive preserve of superstates like the US and China in influencing the world around them. Focusing on Iran this new book spotlights the ways Iran brings soft power to bear on neighbouring Afghanistan and Pakistan in shaping the cultural, economic and strategic relations in its immediate region.