Geopolitical Foundations and the Dual Logic of Iran’s Foreign Policy

ABSTRACT
This study examines the role of geopolitical foundations in shaping Iran’s foreign policy during the period from 2000 to 2023, focusing on the challenges arising from geopolitical dependency on fixed elements within the country’s foreign policy. Iran’s geopolitical foundations, including strategic geographical positioning, energy resources, military and defensive capabilities, and regional influence through the Axis of Resistance, have been consistently leveraged in its foreign policy strategies throughout this period. While these elements have provided Iran with significant power and influence, their repetitive and uninspired utilization has led to geopolitical dependency, rendering Iran vulnerable to global and regional developments. Global crises such as the Ukraine war, shifts in energy routes, and border transformations in the Caucasus, particularly the Zangezur Corridor, have posed substantial threats to Iran’s geopolitical foundations. These dynamics underscore the urgent need for reassessment and innovation in the country’s geopolitical power resources. This research analyzes the challenges facing Iran in leveraging these elements and emphasizes the necessity of diversifying power sources and adapting to new international conditions. The findings of the study reveal that Iran must transition from its persistent reliance on traditional geopolitical components to embrace innovative approaches in power resources and adopt more proactive diplomacy on the global stage.
Extended Abstract
Introduction
In the complex and rapidly shifting landscape of international relations, understanding the structural foundations that shape a state’s foreign policy is vital to analyzing its strategic behavior. Among these foundations, geopolitical factors such as strategic location, access to natural resources, and historical-cultural influence serve as core determinants of a nation's power projection and international posture. Situated at the nexus of the Middle East, Central Asia, and the Caucasus, Iran possesses considerable geopolitical capital. Its unique transit position links East and West; its vast energy reserves rank among the world’s most significant; and its cultural-religious influence permeates the wider Islamic world. These assets have historically positioned Iran as a pivotal regional actor. At the same time, they have exposed the country to persistent structural pressures, including sanctions, geopolitical rivalries, and external interventions. From 2000 to 2023, Iran’s foreign policy was shaped by a series of transformative developments as the U.S. invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, tensions surrounding its nuclear program, the Arab Spring, the rise and fall of ISIS, and broader shifts in the global energy landscape. Simultaneously, environmental stresses, most notably drought and water scarcity, intensified domestic vulnerabilities and introduced new geopolitical risks. These intersecting internal and external forces underscore the need to reassess the strategic logic governing Iran’s geopolitical behavior and the continued utility of its foundational assets.
 
Methodology
This study adopts a qualitative and descriptive-analytical approach grounded in document-based content analysis. Drawing from scholarly literature, policy papers, and official datasets, it investigates how Iran has mobilized its principal geopolitical components as strategic geography, energy resources, military capability, and regional alliances between 2000 and 2023. This approach facilitates the identification of both patterns of continuity and key shifts in Iran’s geopolitical strategy over time.
 
Results and discussion
1.Strategic Geographical Position
Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz has long been both a strategic asset and a point of vulnerability. While this position grants Iran leverage in global energy flows and maritime security, its geographic advantage has primarily been used defensively and transactionally rather than as part of a broader strategy of regional integration or economic connectivity.
2.Energy Resources (Oil and Gas)
As home to the world’s second-largest natural gas reserves and fourth-largest oil reserves, Iran has historically leveraged energy exports as a central instrument of foreign policy. However, this heavy dependence has proven increasingly fragile. Sanctions, market volatility, and recent shifts in global energy dynamics, particularly following the Ukraine war, have exposed the strategic limitations of an energy-centric foreign policy.
3.Military and Defensive Capabilities
Iran’s advancements in missile systems and drone technology have enhanced its deterrence posture and regional influence, particularly through the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Quds Force. Nevertheless, this emphasis on hard power has constrained Iran’s ability to engage in cooperative or multilateral security architectures, limiting its broader diplomatic flexibility.
4.Regional Role (Axis of Resistance)
Iran’s involvement in the Axis of Resistance, supporting allied groups in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen, has extended its strategic depth and deterrence capabilities. However, this engagement has come at a high cost. While initially framed as a defensive strategy, it has evolved into a burdensome commitment that has exacerbated sectarian divisions and drawn sustained international criticism.
Challenges and the Need for Strategic Adaptation
Despite their continued relevance, these four geopolitical pillars have suffered from overuse and a lack of strategic innovation. Their repetitive application in a shifting global context has led to a form of geopolitical erosion, a gradual reduction in their effectiveness as instruments of state power. The absence of economic diversification, limited investment in regional partnerships, and the marginalization of geo-economic strategies have collectively undermined Iran’s ability to convert geopolitical assets into sustainable influence. To reverse this trend, Iran must recalibrate its foreign policy by integrating its traditional strengths into forward-looking frameworks. This includes prioritizing regional economic integration, leveraging connectivity corridors, and participating in cooperative security initiatives. By aligning hard and soft power tools with geo-economic imperatives, Iran can enhance its strategic flexibility and reduce its vulnerability to external shocks.
 
Conclusion
Iran’s geopolitical strategy over the past two decades has oscillated between two competing logics: a traditional emphasis on deterrence and territorial control, and a modern, though underutilized, approach based on engagement and geo-economic collaboration. The failure to reconcile these paradigms has resulted in strategic rigidity and diminished geopolitical returns. To maintain relevance and assert influence in an evolving international system, Iran must reinterpret its geopolitical assets not as static sources of power, but as dynamic instruments of regional cooperation and innovation. Only through strategic renewal can Iran transform its persistent presence into effective and adaptive influence.
 
Funding
There is no funding support.
 
Authors’ Contribution
Authors contributed equally to the conceptualization and writing of the article. All of the authors approved thecontent of the manuscript and agreed on all aspects of the work declaration of competing interest none.
 
Conflict of Interest
Authors declared no conflict of interest.
 
Acknowledgments
We are grateful to all the scientific consultants of this paper.