Developing a SWOT Analysis for Iran's Potential Oil and Gas Operations in the Caspian Sea

The Caspian Sea region is presently a potential major source of crude oil and natural gas and plays an important role in the World oil and gas supply. Due to this potential four of the Caspian Sea neighbouring countrie, namely Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkmenistan, have started to increase their oil and gas production from this area. This paper develop a SWOT analysis to evaluate the future of Iran’s oil and gas industry in the Caspian sea. The article also analyzes the barriers Iran faces in its attempts to take full advantage of its potential in this strategic area.