Creations of Hezbollah was directly to counter Israel. Obviously a powerful group like Hezbollah can achieve other functions, but I am talking at the inception of Hezbollah.
There are more than one factor to supporting Hezbollah in Lebanon, you did not create them they were existing but you supported them from there. Some of it was to protect Shia community of Lebanon during civil war, other part was to counter Israeli occupation, then to maintain influence in Lebanon and have Hezbollah as effective deterrent against Israel which does work. If Hezbollah wasn't there, there could have been a strike on your nuclear program because it's more difficult for you guys to respond to them rather than their neighbor who can unleash lots of firepower on them.
I think you're under the impression that Iran truly does not care about Israel. You're very wrong. There is certainly a genuine hatred against the Zionist regime in Iran. Just because Iran's Anti-Zionist stance may have garnered it support in the past it does not mean it is all for show.
I don't believe it's for a show, Iran and Israel have competing interests in the region. Iran wants to assert itself as leader of region while Israel would prefer status quo in region rather than nuclear arms race. Other than that though it has its limits, you will do what you need to deter Israel/US from your nuclear program. It won't become more than that.
The answer to this question lies in the book written by Mr Khamenei himself. You can read it directly from him.
He has religious audience he needs to pander to. At end of day, however, he is rational and not taking upon himself or Iran to do the unimaginable.
No, not at all. Iran's regional interest clearly do not just involve Israel. At the end of the day, all nations try to project their own interest. Iran has shown the ability to do that, that's one of the reason it is being demonised for it.
Well that is my point, Iran has long term interests and like any other country out there seek to build a stronger nation that will produce tech in future, weapons, infrastructure, innovation and have boosted tourism industry. It is not a country or people that is willing to sacrifice themselves or their history/national identity in order to challenge major powers.
And by sacrifice I don't mean they will be on receiving end of destruction, I mean letting go of their desires to be like any other normal country that continues to advance in fields and is intended to follow a similar model to other nations for the long term. Continue cherishing their national identity and bettering their nation. It's not something they want to throw away.
Liberating Palestine is not an easy task, it does not mean the desire is not there.
Well for me desires don't define much, lots of people desires things but won't go out their way to satisfy these desires unless they are sincerely dedicated. Iran does not prioritize liberating Palestine(they don't need to), it prioritizes advancing itself as a nation and to continue through next chapters of Persian history or chapters of Persian civilization which is dear to them and like Japan, Turkey, Spain, Israel, etc.... They are looking to the future which is clinging on to their identity and history and creating new history.
Such people will not undertake riskier adventures and thus lack sincerity. Or they are overstating their cause. You and other Iranians for example, do not envision Iran entering a civilization war in the Middle East(that will change reality of it) that will risk everything on the table, even possibly Iran's sovereignty, because your country and identity is dearer to you. You want to preserve Persian civilization.
Just like the Turks who want to preserve Turkish civilization. Such an risky adventure requires people to fight for an ideological cause in which said ideology is a priority over national identity.
What you really envision is a region very similar to what we have today, in which most nations remain standing and Iran will only undergo such adventure of liberating Palestine in the event Israel was somehow severely weakened and Iran had the least to lose.
Iran uses Shia not because it only cares about Shia, but because naturally they're more pro-Iran. You think if Iran could have wielded more influence in the Sunni world, that it would not?
Well really your leadership is mostly to blame for missed opportunities in Sunni world as they insist of spreading their beliefs in Sunni areas it seeks influence in.
No, you're wrong. Iran right now is in no position to liberate Palestine, but don't confuse that with it not wanting to.
Well like I said, everyone will have wants and desires. Most people on this forum will say they want Palestine liberated but it doesn't mean anything.
There is no reason why any people in region or from Muslim world to liberate Palestine if it is not ideological. Unless some catastrophic war occurs in which Israel/US is blamed and people are forced into such a situation. Otherwise there would need to be an ideological motive and people need to be ready for socio-political change in the region.
Biggest change being say goodbye to your national identity, no longer living with philosophy of attachment to certain civilization and bettering it for the future.