“Strategic patience” is a policy approach in which a nation or group deliberately navigates complex challenges by focusing on long-term goals, calculated actions, and deliberate restraint. This approach can be seen in diplomacy, business, military, or economic policy, where the aim is to allow circumstances to unfold in a way that enhances leverage or advantage. A compelling example of strategic patience is Iran’s handling of the ongoing geopolitical situations in the Middle East. Startups can learn valuable lessons from this principle without blowing up to ensure resilience and sustainable growth.
Strategic patience can be transformative for startups, providing an edge in building lasting value. Companies like Airbnb and WhatsApp exemplified this approach. Airbnb’s founders spent years refining their business model and gradually building traction before scaling, which allowed them to achieve a strong product-market fit and grow into a successful brand. WhatsApp also took a patient route, focusing on perfecting a simple, effective product that met users’ needs before seeking aggressive growth or funding. This patience paid off, culminating in a multi-billion-dollar acquisition by Facebook.
This approach proves effective in multiple scenarios: during product validation, where it helps gather meaningful insights about customer needs before scaling; in competitive markets, where patience allows for identifying a unique, differentiated angle; and when focusing on long-term value creation over short-term gains. Embracing strategic patience isn’t about being slow—it’s about building a robust foundation for sustained success.
Iran’s resilience provides a fascinating case study of how strategic patience can be effectively employed to achieve long-term goals. From 1941 to 1979, Iran was ruled by Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, whose pro-Western stance and rapid modernization efforts led to economic disparities and widespread discontent. This dissatisfaction culminated in the 1979 Islamic Revolution, which replaced the monarchy with a theocratic republic led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. This shift led to significant changes in Iran’s alliances and national policies, resulting in isolation from Western countries and the imposition of sanctions.
Following the 1979 U.S. Embassy hostage crisis in Tehran, the United States froze billions of dollars in Iranian assets and imposed sanctions that restricted trade across multiple sectors, aiming to diplomatically isolate Iran and cripple its economy. Shortly after the revolution, Iraq, led by Saddam Hussein, invaded Iran in 1980 with support from the United States, several Arab nations, and the Soviet Union. The resulting conflict, known as the Iran-Iraq War, lasted until 1988, causing immense casualties and placing significant economic strain on Iran. In response to Iraq’s external backing and to sustain its defense capabilities, Iran focused on domestic innovations, bolstering its missile and air defense technology.
After the war, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei succeeded Ayatollah Khomeini as Supreme Leader, and President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani (1989-1997) focused on economic recovery. President Mohammad Khatami (1997-2005) sought to improve relations with the West through a “dialogue of civilizations.” However, concerns over Iran’s nuclear ambitions led to continued international scrutiny.
The U.S.-led invasions of Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq in 2003 heightened Iran’s fears of being targeted next. General Wesley Clark, a retired U.S. Army General and former NATO Supreme Allied Commander, revealed that a classified memo outlined a strategy to overthrow the regimes of seven countries within next five years after 9/11, including Iran. In response, Iran took strategic steps to bolster its defence capabilities, focusing on missile and drone technology and constructing underground facilities for strategic infrastructure.
By 2006, as Iran’s nuclear program expanded, the United Nations and the United States imposed additional sanctions. The UN Security Council banned the sale of sensitive nuclear-related technology, and in 2010, the U.S. enacted the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act (CISADA), targeting Iran’s financial and oil sectors.
From 2010 to 2012, Iran faced some of the most comprehensive sanctions to date. The European Union banned oil imports from Iran, and in 2012, SWIFT disconnected Iranian banks from its financial system. These sanctions severely impacted Iran’s economy, limiting its ability to export oil and access global markets.
In 2015, Iran signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with the United States, United Kingdom, Russia, China, France, Germany, and the European Union. The agreement lifted many international sanctions in exchange for limitations on Iran’s nuclear program, allowing the country to re-enter global markets and access billions of dollars in frozen assets, providing a temporary boost to its economic stability.
However, in 2018, the U.S., under President Donald Trump, unilaterally withdrew from the JCPOA and reimposed stringent sanctions targeting Iran’s oil, banking, and industrial sectors under a “maximum pressure” policy influenced by pressure from AIPAC, an Israeli lobbying organization. These sanctions included freezing Iranian assets abroad, limiting oil exports, and targeting Iran’s central bank. In 2020, the U.S. further expanded sanctions to include entities involved in Iran’s missile program and its support for regional proxies such as Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, and resistance groups in Iraq and Syria. Despite these Western sanctions, Iran’s strategy of building regional influence through alliances and proxy forces exemplifies leveraging indirect means to expand power without direct confrontation. Iran’s nuclear program also serves as a critical lever in negotiations, providing bargaining power in international forums while balancing diplomacy with defiance. During challenging times, Iran invested heavily in domestic innovations, especially in military technologies.
The killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani by the Trump administration in January 2020 marked a significant shift in Iran’s strategic approach. In response, Iran broke with its long-standing practice of strategic patience, launching missile attacks on American bases in Iraq—with prior notification—targeting the Al Asad and Erbil bases. Despite the presence of American air defenses, all missiles hit their intended targets. This marked the first overt direct military action against U.S. forces by Iran in decades, escalating U.S.-Iran tensions significantly. Reports suggest that President Trump sought advice from the Pentagon on potential retaliation, but the Pentagon warned that any escalation could prompt Iran to launch a widespread missile attack, potentially wiping out American bases across the Middle East, leading to a severe global crisis.
Iran also strengthened its strategic alliances with anti-Western powers like Russia and China. This relationship became increasingly evident during the Russia-Ukraine war, with Iran providing advanced drone technology to Russia.
Recent conflicts between Israel and Iran further highlight Iran’s shift from strategic patience to active deterrence. Following an Israeli airstrike on the Iranian embassy in Syria on April 1, 2024, Iran retaliated on April 13 with a massive missile and drone attack on Israel, marking its first direct assault in history. Despite the efforts of American, Israeli, and allied air defenses, some projectiles struck symbolic targets, demonstrating Iran’s capabilities.
Tensions escalated further on July 31 when Israel assassinated Ismail Haniyeh, the Hamas political chief and former Palestinian National Authority prime minister, who was visiting Iran for a presidential inauguration. On October 1, Iran launched 180 ballistic missiles, including hypersonic missiles, with approximately 80% successfully hitting their targets within just 12 minutes, marking one of the largest missile attacks in military history. In response, Israel conducted a complex air force operation against Iran, marking its first direct attack on the country. Despite these attacks, Iran successfully neutralized most of the missiles using its domestic air defense systems.
The world now awaits Iran’s next move—’True Promise 3’—a retaliation that Iranian leaders have pledged to execute at a time and place of their choosing, underscoring their confidence in the capabilities honed through decades of strategic patience. Whether for startups navigating competitive markets or nations managing international challenges, embracing strategic patience fosters resilience in the face of adversity.
faznotes.com 
Leave a comment