--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: From a geo-strategic point of view, I…" description: "\"From a geo-strategic point of view, I consider Iran a bigger problem than the Islamic State. ISIS is a group of adventurers with a very aggressive ideo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e68/henry-a-kissinger-1068_adventurer_from-a-geo-strategic-point-of-view-i-con_1188306.jpg" --- # From a geo-strategic point of view, I consider Iran a… ![“From a geo-strategic point of view, I consider Iran a bigger problem than the Islamic State. ISIS is a group of adventurers with a very aggressive ideology. But they have to conquer more and more territory before they can became a geo-strategic, permanent reality. I think a conflict with ISIS…” quote by Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e68/henry-a-kissinger-1068_adventurer_from-a-geo-strategic-point-of-view-i-con_1188306.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e68/henry-a-kissinger-1068_adventurer_from-a-geo-strategic-point-of-view-i-con_1188306.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e68/henry-a-kissinger-1068_adventurer_from-a-geo-strategic-point-of-view-i-con_1188306.jpg) > “From a geo-strategic point of view, I consider Iran a bigger problem than the Islamic State. ISIS is a group of adventurers with a very aggressive ideology. But they have to conquer more and more territory before they can became a geo-strategic, permanent reality. I think a conflict with ISIS - important as it is - is more manageable than a confrontation with Iran.” [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. From a strategic perspective, Iran poses a larger, more enduring threat than ISIS because Iran’s state power can sustain long‑term regional influence. **In simple terms:** Iran is a bigger, lasting threat than ISIS. Key Takeaway Prioritize diplomatic strategies toward Iran. Themes geopolitics security statecraft Mood analytical cautious Type policy strategic When to use this quote - policy planning - military budgeting - regional alliances - counter‑terrorism Key Concepts realism strategic stability Questions to Reflect On - How can the balance be managed? - What diplomatic tools are effective? A Different Perspective Focusing on Iran may divert resources from immediate threats. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adventurer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adventurer/) [Conflict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflict/) [Confrontation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confrontation/) [Ideology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideology/) [Isis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/isis/) [Islam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/islam/) [Islamic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/islamic/) [Islamic state](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/islamic-state/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Point of view](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/point-of-view/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Europe, the U.S., and their allies can defeat the terrorists of Islamic State, or ISIS. The first step is making the decision to fight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naftali-bennett/europe-the-u-s-and-their-allies-can-defeat-the-terrorists-of-islamic/) [Naftali Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naftali-bennett/) > [Historically when there is a rising power like China, it has usually led to confrontations between the rising power and the existing dominant powers.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/historically-when-there-is-a-rising-power-like-china-it-has-usually/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [I do not criticize people who take a public stand on human rights issues. I express my respect for them. But some people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/i-do-not-criticize-people-who-take-a-public-stand-on-human-rights/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [Every time there has been an attempt to disturb it, it led to two things. It led to immediate intense conflict with China, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/every-time-there-has-been-an-attempt-to-disturb-it-it-led-to-two/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [There is a connection between the issue of refugees and the battle against the so-called Islamic State.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-de-maiziere/there-is-a-connection-between-the-issue-of-refugees-and-the-battle/) [Thomas de Maiziere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-de-maiziere/) > [We are not panicking because we know that Islamic State cannot conquer the capital.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmed-chalabi/we-are-not-panicking-because-we-know-that-islamic-state-cannot/) [Ahmed Chalabi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmed-chalabi/) > [When I first raised the issue of the so-called Islamic State at the Munich Security Conference in February, speaking about its economy, its flexibility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashraf-ghani/when-i-first-raised-the-issue-of-the-so-called-islamic-state-at-the/) [Ashraf Ghani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashraf-ghani/) > [The West wanted to avoid an Islamic state in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franjo-tudjman/the-west-wanted-to-avoid-an-islamic-state-in-europe/) [Franjo Tudjman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franjo-tudjman/) > [Maliki saw Islamic State as a way to exert pressure. If I am not re-elected, terror will befall you - that was his message.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmed-chalabi/maliki-saw-islamic-state-as-a-way-to-exert-pressure-if-i-am-not-re/) [Ahmed Chalabi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmed-chalabi/) > [ We call for, on the other hand - how do you deal with ISIS \[Islamic State\], of course, is the question that comes up… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/we-call-for-on-the-other-hand-how-do-you-deal-with-isis-islamic-state/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [ What is common among all of these groups \[Taliban, Islamic State etc.\] is the intent to destroy. The majority of terrorists who come to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashraf-ghani/what-is-common-among-all-of-these-groups-taliban-islamic-state-etc-is/) [Ashraf Ghani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashraf-ghani/) > [We need a united front against Islamic State and Assad happens to be the decisive power that can fight them. But the situation is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmed-chalabi/we-need-a-united-front-against-islamic-state-and-assad-happens-to-be/) [Ahmed Chalabi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmed-chalabi/) > [“An uncontrollable force at the other side of the border is attacking civilians,” Numan Kurtulmus, a Turkish deputy prime minister, said of the Islamic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/an-uncontrollable-force-at-the-other-side-of-the-border-is-attacking/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Saying that the origin of the Islamic State (IS) is within the Muslim Brotherhood organisation only strengthens IS.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/saying-that-the-origin-of-the-islamic-state-is-is-within-the-muslim/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [ \[Islam\] Leaves no room of human legislation in an Islamic state, because herein all legislative functions vest in God and the only function left… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abul-a-la-maududi/islam-leaves-no-room-of-human-legislation-in-an-islamic-state-because/) [Abul A'la Maududi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abul-a-la-maududi/) ## More by Henry A. Kissinger > [90% of politicians give the other 10% a bad name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/90-of-politicians-give-the-other-10-a-bad-name/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [I believe it is a mistake to isolate arms control from other areas of policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/i-believe-it-is-a-mistake-to-isolate-arms-control-from-other-areas-of/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [ Before the Freedom of Information Act, I used to say at meetings "The illegal we do immediately. The unconstitutional takes a little longer." \[...\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/before-the-freedom-of-information-act-i-used-to-say-at-meetings-the/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [The convictions that leaders have formed before reaching high office are the intellectual capital they will consume as long as they continue in office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/the-convictions-that-leaders-have-formed-before-reaching-high-office/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [Nothing is more urgent than a serious, dare I say compassionate, debate as to where we are going at home and abroad. Technicians cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/nothing-is-more-urgent-than-a-serious-dare-i-say-compassionate-debate/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [Jews were segregated from 1933 on. We could only play against other Jewish teams. This wasn't just social segregation; this was the beginning of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/jews-were-segregated-from-1933-on-we-could-only-play-against-other/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [The Russian people, at least the ones I know, have pride in being a Russian. And, therefore, they want to be taken seriously in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/the-russian-people-at-least-the-ones-i-know-have-pride-in-being-a/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [There are only two reasons to sit in the back row of an airplane: Either you have diarrhea, or you're anxious to meet people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/there-are-only-two-reasons-to-sit-in-the-back-row-of-an-airplane/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [John Paul II was one of the greatest men of the last century. Perhaps the greatest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/john-paul-ii-was-one-of-the-greatest-men-of-the-last-century-perhaps/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [Does anyone have any questions for my answers?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/does-anyone-have-any-questions-for-my-answers/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [Taiwan will probably not declare independence. The question isn't independence. The issue is whether Taiwan will declare itself as a sovereign separate state. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/taiwan-will-probably-not-declare-independence-the-question-isn-t/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [China is a country with a record of continuous self-government going back 4,000 years, the only society that has achieved this. One must start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/china-is-a-country-with-a-record-of-continuous-self-government-going/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [With proper tactics, nuclear war need not be as destructive as it appears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/with-proper-tactics-nuclear-war-need-not-be-as-destructive-as-it/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [I think a resumption of the Cold War would be a historic tragedy. If a conflict is avoidable, on a basis reflecting morality and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/i-think-a-resumption-of-the-cold-war-would-be-a-historic-tragedy-if-a/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [University politics make me long for the simplicity of the Middle East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/university-politics-make-me-long-for-the-simplicity-of-the-middle-east/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) [Explore all 298 Henry A. Kissinger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) ## More Adventurer quotes > [ There was another reason \[she\] took her books whenever they went away. They were her home when she was somewhere strange. They were familiar… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelia-funke/there-was-another-reason-she-took-her-books-whenever-they-went-away/) [Cornelia Funke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-funke/) > [As an adventurer...I try to protect against the downside. I make sure I have covered as many eventualities as I can. In the end,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/as-an-adventurer-i-try-to-protect-against-the-downside-i-make-sure-i/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers-eaters-of/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [“I know I am planning to visit a "land" that is not entirely foreign, only foreign to me. As an adventurer, I am on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-barnicke-belleghem/i-know-i-am-planning-to-visit-a-land-that-is-not-entirely-foreign/) [Marilyn Barnicke Belleghem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-barnicke-belleghem/) > [Every flyer who ventures across oceans to distant lands is a potential explorer; in his or her breast burns the same fire that urged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-batten/every-flyer-who-ventures-across-oceans-to-distant-lands-is-a/) Jean Batten > [Some gifted adventurer is always sailing round the world of art and science, to bring home costly merchandise from every port.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/some-gifted-adventurer-is-always-sailing-round-the-world-of-art-and/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [If we are going to make the change from community to communitas, and not just end up with an unsustainable adrenaline-junkie culture, we must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-hirsch/if-we-are-going-to-make-the-change-from-community-to-communitas-and/) [Alan Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-hirsch/) > [A man's interest in the world is only the overflow from his interest in himself. When you are a child your vessel is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/a-man-s-interest-in-the-world-is-only-the-overflow-from-his-interest/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [“The mind is a wild thing. An adventurer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-spencer/the-mind-is-a-wild-thing-an-adventurer/) [A. Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-spencer/) > [Oh, children, growing up to be Adventurers into sophistry, Forbear, forbear to be of those That read the rood to learn the rose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-st-vincent-millay/oh-children-growing-up-to-be-adventurers-into-sophistry-forbear/) [Edna St. Vincent Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-st-vincent-millay/) > [Today we see the steady stream from the countryside to the city, deadly for the Volk. The cities swell ever larger, unnerving the Volk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-rosenberg/today-we-see-the-steady-stream-from-the-countryside-to-the-city/) [Alfred Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-rosenberg/) > [“One man can go where a group cannot, and manage on very little, particularly a rough adventurer such as he. More the point, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-novik/one-man-can-go-where-a-group-cannot-and-manage-on-very-little/) [Naomi Novik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-novik/) > [Adventurer: he that goes to meet whatever may come. Well, that is what we all do in the world one way or another...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-rider-haggard/adventurer-he-that-goes-to-meet-whatever-may-come-well-that-is-what/) [H. Rider Haggard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-rider-haggard/) > [“This is what it means to be an adventurer in our day: to give up creature comforts of the mind, to realize the possibilities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hib-chickena/this-is-what-it-means-to-be-an-adventurer-in-our-day-to-give-up/) Hib Chickena > [The division of the spoils between the victors will also provide employment for a powerful office, whose doorsteps the greedy adventurers and jealous concession…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-maynard-keynes/the-division-of-the-spoils-between-the-victors-will-also-provide/) [John Maynard Keynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-maynard-keynes/) [Browse all 184 Adventurer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adventurer/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "From a geo-strategic point of view, I consider Iran a bigger problem than the Islamic State. ISIS is a group of adventurers with a very aggressive ideology. But they have to conquer more and more territory before they can became a geo-strategic, permanent reality. I think a conflict with ISIS - important as it is - is more manageable than a confrontation with Iran.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry A. Kissinger" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/from-a-geo-strategic-point-of-view-i-consider-iran-a-bigger-problem/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Adventurer" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/from-a-geo-strategic-point-of-view-i-consider-iran-a-bigger-problem/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e68/henry-a-kissinger-1068_adventurer_from-a-geo-strategic-point-of-view-i-con_1188306.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e68/henry-a-kissinger-1068_adventurer_from-a-geo-strategic-point-of-view-i-con_1188306.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e68/henry-a-kissinger-1068_adventurer_from-a-geo-strategic-point-of-view-i-con_1188306.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“From a geo-strategic point of view, I consider Iran a bigger problem than the Islamic State. ISIS is a group…” — Henry A. Kissinger", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Henry A. Kissinger", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "From a geo-strategic point of view,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/from-a-geo-strategic-point-of-view-i-consider-iran-a-bigger-problem/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/from-a-geo-strategic-point-of-view-i-consider-iran-a-bigger-problem/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```