A Study of Strategic Capabilities of the Free Zone of Chabahar along with Geopolitical Weight and National Power of Iran (From Iran's Internal, Regional and International Perspectives)

Today, free zones are a means to enter the global market and to use the comparative advantage of internal economy in international commerce. They can also serve as a catalyst for linking national economy to global economy. Since the geopolitical weight and position of countries in global system have a direct relation to their national power, free zones as semi-independent entities with various economic, industrial, touristic functions, play an important role in increasing national power and geopolitical weight of countries. The main question posed by this article is that whether marine port and free zone of Chabahar has acquired appropriate geopolitical weight to increase national power of the Islamic Republic of Iran? In responding the main question of the research, this hypothesis is put forward that given its unprecedented geopolitical situation, the marine port and free zone of Chabahar, in case of the realization of its development goals, enjoys the three levels of national, regional and global capabilities. At the national level, the development of Chabahar paves the ways for the sustainable and comprehensive development of the deprived, vulnerable and crisis-ridden province of Sistan and Balouchestan. At the regional level, the contiguity of Chabahar with Afghanistan and enclosed republics of Central Asia will make economic exchange and profitable maritime trade much easier, and therefore, it can provide necessary means for convergence among regional countries. The situation of Chabahar in north – south corridor with its many benefits shows the outstanding geopolitical position of Chabahar at the international level. Also, the serious participation of India (at present) and China (in near future) increases the high geopolitical weight and global capabilities of Chabahar.