With Iran being the sole Shiite state in the world, it seems only natural that it views itself as representing not only Iranian Shiites, but the entire Shiite community worldwide. Based on and justified by the expansionist notion of Khomeinist Shiism, upon which the Islamic Republic of Iran was built, Iran aims to expand its ideological and political influence in other countries in the region. Due to its proximity and majority Shiite populations, this first and foremost applies to Iraq.