An Analysis Model for Strategic Environment of Islamic Republic of Iran's Foreign Policy (Case Study: Central Asia)

Strategic decision-making in foreign policy arena needs a strict cognition of external realities، self-potentialities، scrutinizing possible options، and an exact calculation of the costs and the achievements of each action. Therefore، cognition and analysis of the environment is a necessity for foreign policy and is in the center of executive attention. This necessity is rooted in the activeness of the environment and ignoring it would lead to some irreparable damages that would endanger national security and interests. Having a clear perspective towards future events/developments is another advantage of environment analysis، which helps avoid facing unpredictable events. Central Asia region in the neighboring of Iran is a priority area for its foreign policy. Iran and the region of Central Asia are interconnected to the extent that developments in each impact the other. Therefore a systematic and scientific study on the evolutions of Central Asia is essential for the foreign policy of Iran. Using scientific methods of environment analysis in the field of strategic management، the authors attempt to find an appropriate model for environment analysis in Central Asia.