The Study and Prioritization of Divergent Factors Affecting the Relations between Iran and Peripheral Islamic Countries

With a geopolitical look at the issues of Iran and the surrounding Islamic countries, it is clear that any action in Iran, as a center of Shiite religion, affects the Islamic countries of the neighborhood, which are part of the Iranian sphere of influence. By having more knowledge about the influential factors in this area, Iran can pay more attention to coping with issues and solving problems in the neighbor Islamic countries. However, the territory of Iran, according to its geography and complex history, encompasses various geopolitical issues that could affect Iran’s relations with the neighbor countries. The close study of these issues is one of the essential requirements for sustainable and constructive relationship with the Islamic neighbors. Because, according to Imam Sadiq’s (as) quote, ‘man is responsible for humanity’. In this regard, the present study adopting a scientific approach in using theoretical perspectives on the factors affecting relations between countries, attempts to study the geopolitical and divergent factors influencing the relations between Iran and the neighbor Islamic countries. This study applied a mix method approach consisting of descriptive – analytic method and a survey that by using library sources and field studies through the questionnaire and the MCDM (type AHP) technique, collected data to answer the research question of: ‘what are the most important geopolitical and divergent factors affecting the expansion of Iran influence on peripheral Islamic countries in terms of priority?’ In the results of the present study, a total of 11 divergent factors were identified and in prioritizing them in the context of tension, the A8 factor (ideological conflicts) was considered as the first and most important divergent factor between Iran and peripheral Islamic countries.