درخت حوزه‌های تخصصی

Topic and Significance of the Discussion: The Islamic Republic of Iran boasts 190,000 square kilometers of maritime territory and over 5,800 kilometers of coastline, with approximately 40% of its borders being maritime. A crucial element in the realm of marine defense diplomacy is the enhancement of maritime defense capabilities, which includes extending the presence of naval fleets beyond territorial waters and into international waters. Consequently, the Supreme Leader has consistently emphasized the importance of leveraging maritime resources and strengthening naval forces. The central research question is: What are the regional and transregional security policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the maritime domain, and what achievements have been realized in pursuit of maritime-oriented development? Results: The regional and transregional security policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran can be demonstrated through the enhancement of its strategic naval force, which consists of both the Navy and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy, each playing a complementary role. This policy yields several key outcomes: it allows for the display of the Islamic Republic of Iran's flag in distant waters, ensures the security of Iranian commercial ships and oil tankers to promote sustainable international maritime security, and safeguards Iran's interests in strategically important waters. Additionally, it showcases the naval force's capability to operate wherever the nation's interests dictate. The policy also aims to send messages of peace and friendship globally while countering narratives of Iranophobia. It enhances combat capabilities, broadens the operational reach of naval units, and evaluates Iran's readiness and self-sufficiency in the realms of science and technology. The policy maintains a presence in targeted waters despite facing comprehensive economic and military sanctions and allows for the acquisition of valuable experiences in navigation and international maritime law by traversing critical, heavily trafficked international straits and waterways. Furthermore, it facilitates the collection of intelligence regarding the combat readiness and deployment status of transregional forces, broadens the scope of Iran's diplomatic efforts, and establishes security to promote trade in both regional and international contexts. This, in turn, fosters economic activity and supports maritime-oriented development.

Due to external factors (like sanctions) and internal issues (such as poorly managed privatization and banking), the country's economic performance has been disappointing over the past decade, with economic growth averaging less than 2%, inflation over 20%, and negative 5% fixed capital formation. Consequently, the country now falls into the category of low-income nations in international reports. Additionally, the loss of the golden era of revenues from crude oil sales has increased restrictions on the government's access to programmable financial resources. Therefore, to address these challenges, Iran must reconstruct its trade flows and explore new economic activities, particularly through economic diplomacy with neighboring countries. This effort should also involve defining new areas for economic activities. For this reason, while it is possible to view economic diplomacy through conventional political definitions as a means to enhance a country's standing in the international arena by promoting foreign trade and creating new markets, in our country, economic diplomacy should be regarded primarily as a strategy to navigate the current challenges facing the national economy. Within this context, among other states, Russia is identified as a key partner for enhancing trade. The conclusions of this research identify the most significant trade obstacles between Iran and Russia as follows: A) Inadequate business infrastructure, B) poorly organized foreign trade activities, and C) The complexities of international political economy. Conversely, the principal solutions to enhance trade levels include A) strengthening infrastructure, B) fostering joint investment opportunities rather than solely focusing on exporting goods, C) enhancing the information and marketing sectors, and D) diversifying the range of exported goods.

Having deep historical roots, the relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of India have been shaped by a multitude of factors, encompassing domestic, regional, and international developments. The influence of major powers on the contemporary ties of these two countries stands out among the international factors. Drawing on the analytical framework developed by Erzsébet N. Rózsa (2021), this paper aims to examine the role of the United States (US) in transforming the dynamics of Iran-India relations. The central argument put forth is that the foreign policy behavior of both countries towards each other in recent years is driven by national strategic interests rather than historical connections. The study employs a three-tiered analysis, examining the bilateral, regional, and global levels. Each level focuses on particular prominent aspects, such as trade flows and the energy market, developments in Southwest Asia, and the nuclear issue, respectively. This article contends that at all three levels, the importance of forging a strong bilateral relationship between India and Iran cannot be overlooked, given their numerous converging interests. However, the US foreign policy towards Tehran, notably through the maximum pressure campaign initiated by former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden’s failure to reverse unilateral sanctions, has indeed had a significantly detrimental impact on the ties between the two countries in the post-JCPOA period.

The geopolitical landscape of West Asia, especially the Persian Gulf region, is characterized by protracted conflicts, humanitarian crises, and complex historical grievances. To address these challenges and foster stability, this paper proposes the establishment of a new constructive initiative - the Muslim West Asian Dialogue Association (MWADA) - at the heart of the region. This initiative seeks to bring together key Muslim nations in this region for comprehensive dialogue and cooperative action, grounded in principles of mutual respect, shared security, and economic integration. By focusing on shared challenges and opportunities, MWADA aims to transform the current narrative of conflict into one of collaboration and sustainable development, emphasizing the urgent need for a collective approach to regional issues.