NATO's Relations with the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council and Its Implications for Regional Security

The Persian Gulf region possesses a special place at the international security levels because of its geopolitical and geostrategic status. Given the importance of the concept of geopolitics in the post-September 11th period as in the Cold War era, transregional actors such as the United States, European Union and NATO have taken up new roles in the security management of the Persian Gulf. The findings of this research suggest that the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran should pursue détente with the GCC countries and stop using threats to the disruption of the flow of energy through the Persian Gulf. It should also focus upon forging a participatory security model, which is stable and efficient, involving all regional nations. Furthermore, Iran’s presence in the existing security arrangements and playing a more active part in the current security pacts such as the GCC and a regional military force can pave the way for confidence-building and acceptance of Iran’s important role by the regional countries. In order to attain this goal, steps should be taken to guarantee an observer status for Iran in the GCC and promoting Iran’s status.