This study examines the challenges and opportunities facing Iran's foreign policy during the presidency of Hassan Rouhani (2013-2021), with Iraq as a case study. The importance of this issue lies in Iran's significant role and presence in Iraq's political landscape. These challenges and opportunities shape the extent of Iran's influence in various spheres of Iraqi political life. The study also highlights the key challenges and opportunities confronting Iran's foreign policy toward Iraq during Hassan Rouhani's presidency. It employs a descriptive (qualitative) analysis method and applies the theory of structural realism. As a result, the study found that several significant challenges and opportunities confronted Iran's foreign policy during Hassan Rouhani's presidency, including the emergence of the terrorist organization ISIS, which captured a third of Iraq's territory, balancing the presence and influence of the United States, and the assassination of Qassem Soleimani. Opportunities included security cooperation against ISIS, economic expansion, and Iranian influence following the defeat of ISIS. These challenges and opportunities were products of the anarchy of the international system and Iraq's lack of order and power distribution. These challenges and opportunities influenced Iran's influence and role in Iraq under Hassan Rouhani.
Mohammed et al. (Mon,) studied this question.