Iranian Review of Foreign Affairs (IRFA)

In the intricate geopolitical landscape of Afghanistan, attaining sustainable security remains an evolving challenge fraught with complex dynamics and critical transitions. This study utilizes Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process techniques to systematically elucidate the myriad determinants shaping Afghanistan's security paradigm. Our meticulous examination foregrounds political and social factors as paramount in this multifaceted terrain. Politically, fostering greater regional cooperation, strategic international relations policies, and consolidating the political will of ruling elites emerge as pivotal. Economically, priority rests on catalyzing poverty alleviation and spurring intense developmental drive depicted as ‘economic jihad’. Socially, augmenting solidarity across ethnic and religious divides and encouraging public participation in security are indispensable. Culturally, amplifying educational standards and nurturing trust in governance prove critical. The Taliban takeover marked a profound shift, necessitating reevaluating security paradigms and amplifying Iran’s strategic role in diplomatic engagement and humanitarian aid to moderate Taliban policies and support Afghan stability. By unraveling the complex interplay of factors spanning political, economic, social and cultural dimensions, this study provides invaluable insights to inform context-specific policies and strategies to advance Afghanistan’s multifaceted peacebuilding needs within a holistic framework prioritizing political stability, economic upliftment, social cohesion and regional cooperation underpinned by human rights and inclusive governance.

Peace and security are blessings that God has given to mankind for the sake of growth and development of human societies. What is certain is that peace is a human ideal and all human beings need peace and comfort in their daily lives to work and strive and to realize their material and spiritual abilities. Terrorism -as an old phenomenon with a new form and nature- is one of the most important and challenging problems of our world. Meanwhile, it is so brutal, outrageous, scary and reprehensible that it can be called as "cancer of our modern world". Terrorism by itself does not determine the system of action and reaction. Dealing with terrorism must follow a logical order; An order that is defined against all anti-peace phenomena and lies in natural, divine and human values. The international system lacks a clear and comprehensive strategy against security threats and peace violations. Therefore, the counter-terrorism mechanisms and measures stipulated in the existing international documents have sometimes taken a direction that are not necessarily compatible with other measures that have been established regarding other categories of world peace; Rather, their contradictions and incompatibilities are clearly visible in practice. With an innovative action, especially in the last decade, the Islamic Republic of Iran has taken a strategy to eradicate terrorism. In this regard, while dealing with the roots and intellectual and religious foundations of terrorism, Iran has simultaneously, Tactically and operationally tried to fight with the manifestations of terrorism and prevent the expansion of terrorist attacks. in this field, it has had extensive cooperation with international and regional organizations and their executive bodies, such as Interpol.

The global nuclear energy scene is changing rapidly. Some countries are phasing out nuclear technology. Some are in the nuclear renaissance, planning to promote the most ambitious new construction programme. Statemen make the proper decision in nuclear policy striking the best balance of domestic energy policies, energy-concerned foreign policies, and the dynamism of international relations. This study tries to analyse the political aspects of nuclear programmes in foreign policies and international relations in the Persian Gulf region. The study examines the reasons why oil & gas producer states want to acquire nuclear energy/weapons. It reviews the structural, psychological, and technological dimensions of nuclear politics in a neoclassical realism paradigm to find the balancing energy strategies. The research examines policy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Iran. Different states' power and different perceptions of the international system allow for explaining various role players in foreign policy and energy politics. The theoretical starting point of this thesis is Neoclassical Realism in the literature of international relations. This theory offers venues for the analysis of energy diplomacy. The theory concentrates on material power and underlines the importance of state domestic structure, as well as the statesmen’s perception of the international system. These aspects create the opportunity to explain the different positions of energy choices in foreign policies of different states.

This article explores the role of the International Court of Justice (hereafter ICJ) in the relations between Iran and the United States (hereafter U.S.), with reference to the last disputes between the two countries over the 1955 Treaty of Amity, Economic Relations and Consular Rights. The article argues that the ICJ has both jurisdiction (Ratione Materiae) and substantive competence (Merits) to adjudicate the case, based on the trans-analytical method. The article draws on the past judgments of the ICJ in similar cases between Iran and the U.S., such as the Case Concerning US Diplomatic and Consular Staff in Tehran, the Case Concerning the Aerial Incident, and the Case Concerning Oil Platforms, to support its findings. The article also discusses the implications of the U.S. decision to terminate the Treaty of Amity and to challenge the ICJ’s jurisdiction. The article predicts that the ICJ will establish its judgment based on Article 10 of the Treaty of Amity, which affirms the principle of free trade, and conclude that the U.S. sanctions violate the Treaty of Amity.

Regional Order and Maximum Pressure on the Islamic Republic of Iran, an American NarrativeAbstractOver time, various foreign policy and International Relations scholars have offered different themes and arguments on foreign policy. The necessity to review these themes and definitions are due to the continuity of foreign policy as a continuum, in which foreign policy and its different terms take shape and are formed. This study conducts a research on an American perspective of the maximum pressure campaign against Iran, which was a new term and policy enforced by the Trump administration. It reviews different tools of American statecraft and argues that the maximum pressure campaign was a multilayered hybrid warfare with repercussions. In this regard, historically, the American security arrangement in Western Asia has undergone various stages. In the 1970s it was based on the Twin Pillars of Nixon while later on it was based on confrontation which was adopted under different terms such as dual containment and containment. In this study through a contextual analysis it is deducted that the campaign against Iran was an American example of multi-layered hybrid warfare. In addition, it is argued that this multi-layered hybrid warfare created an unstable region. This development alongside the American pivot to Asia has created a regional arrangement which involves great power competition and is inclined towards Chinese and Russian intervention and mediation. Thus an increased third party foothold and a destabilized regional order are the outcomes of the maximum campaign, which ostensibly contradict the American pivot to Asia.

This article offers a thorough examination of Iran's strategic realignment towards the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the BRICS bloc within the evolving international political landscape. Utilizing a neoclassical realist framework, the research delves into the systemic pressures and intrinsic state-level factors that influence Iran's foreign policy decisions. The research method adopted encompasses both qualitative analysis and a review of primary and secondary sources to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the geopolitical recalibration. Key findings indicate that Iran's shift is driven by a combination of economic, diplomatic, and strategic imperatives. Economically, affiliations with the SCO and BRICS present Iran with enhanced trade opportunities, investment prospects, and alternative financing mechanisms in the backdrop of Western sanctions. Diplomatically, these affiliations bolster Iran's regional and global position, affording it platforms for dialogue and strategic cooperation. Strategically, the realignment has profound implications for both West Asian power dynamics and the broader global power structures, hinting at a transition towards a more multipolar world order. However, the research also uncovers multifaceted challenges that Iran confronts in this strategic pivot, ranging from managing diverse priorities within the SCO and BRICS to reconciling domestic objectives with global aspirations. In essence, the article sheds light on Iran's adaptive foreign policy strategy amidst a changing global order. By answering questions related to the motivations, benefits, and challenges of Iran's strategic realignment, this research provides valuable insights into the future trajectory of geopolitical dynamics in West Asia and beyond.

Tehran is grappling with irritating air pollution for a couple of years and the challenge seems to be getting worse. However, what is the main reason for this? To answer the question, many studies have concentrated on the primary chemical ingredients, like CO; and others have focused on where such pollutants are produced, like factories. Nevertheless, we have selected a higher level of analysis by reviewing socio-economic hypotheses (including sanctions, population, and mismanagement) as well as global climate change from 1999 to 2023 while using descriptive and inferential statistics. We know that crude oil is one of the main exported products of Iran. Thus, to evaluate sanctions as the central hypothesis, we surveyed the rate of crude oil exports, and as an assumption, there is a negative relation between sanctions and such exportation. At this stage, we studied the relationship between sanctions and AQI (one of the best scales for calculating air pollution) and on the other hand, sanctions and main toxic gases. For rival hypotheses, we analyzed the relation between AQI and them (population, mismanagement, and global climate change). All in all, among them, the results demonstrate only the correlation of sanctions with CO (-.916), NO2 (.718), and SO2 (-.687). Meanwhile, it is assumed that by using some methods and applying standards, the government could manage the amount of CO and SO2, whereas, due to the need of Mazut to maintain the economy of energy, NO2 has increased.

Smart power is one of the concepts and terms derived from the western discourse and the order of liberal democracy, which has specific meanings, meanings and indicators in this discourse. What is emphasized in this article is a different narrative from the Chinese perspective to smart power. Statistical data, documents and current trends all confirm that despite the dominance of the liberal order and its mechanisms on the political and economic structures of the world, Beijing has increasingly expanded its role and influence in different regions of the world, including Africa. This country has become a key country in the international system by taking advantage of the international opportunities provided by globalization along with the fundamental redefinition of national principles and interests. What enables a deep analysis in the text of this apparent conflict is the Chinese narrative of intelligent power, which is rooted in Chinese culture and thoughts, contemporary historical developments, and ultimately the consensus of the country's elites. Therefore, the main question of this article can be posed as what are the coordinates of Chinese smart power and how can the development and influence of China in Africa be justified based on the concepts and coordinates of this concept of soft power?Keywords: China, African continent, smart power, Chinese culture, influence

Branches of international law closely concern international and non-international armed conflicts. So, these principles are tried to be operationalized in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. From the point of view of international law, the disputed region is recognized as a part of the territory of Azerbaijan, and no country has recognized the self-proclaimed Republic of Armenia there. Nagorno-Karabakh region belongs to Azerbaijan from the perspective of international law and based on the resolutions of the Security Council. This study is conducted to examine the legal aspects of the Nagorno-Karabakh crisis, seeking an answer to its legal implications. According to the results, Azerbaijan's rights to maintain its territorial integrity are undeniable and legitimate. However, the actions of the Republic of Azerbaijan, even in the context of defending its territorial integrity, should not pose a threat to the Armenian people of Karabakh. Referring to the acceptance of the principle of territorial integrity regarding the right of nations to self-determination in international law, any action against this principle is not legitimate, and the right to self-determination is accepted as long as the said principle is not violated.

Changes in the security order of the regions cause changes in the control systems and containment of the threats of extra-regional intervening powers. This evolution can be seen in the dimensions of the units, the type of relationships, the layers of the units' communication with each other, and the way the units function to ensure their security interests. In the region of West Asia, which has gone through three periods of regulation, we are witnessing significant developments in the field of regulation. Simple and linear security system, complex security system and network security system are three periods of regulation in which there are three types of control and containment systems. Containment of the Islamic Republic of Iran as a regional security threat has always been discussed in US foreign policy after the victory of the Islamic Revolution. In this framework, the following research question is raised: What evolution has the American control and restraint system undergone against the Islamic Republic of Iran, and how has this evolution been? In response to the above question, the following hypothesis is proposed: the change in the security order of the West Asian region has caused the American control system to become a network control system, and this system is a four-layer network (geopolitics, geoeconomics, geoenergy, and geoculture) against The Islamic Republic of Iran operates. The research method in this article is descriptive-explanatory and documentary and library methods were used to collect the materials.