The Role of Medical Diplomacy in increasing Iran's Soft Power: Contexts, Opportunities and Implications

Although about three decades have passed since the introduction of the concept of soft power by Joseph Nye, and Iran's attention to cultural, political, and social dimensions of this kind of power, but the issue of medical diplomacy as one of the symbols of soft power has been neglected. The main question of the present study is how medical diplomacy can help Iran to increase its soft power? The main hypothesis of the research refers to the services that are provided to the citizens of other countries in medical diplomacy and make in their minds and hearts the kindness and generosity of the donor country and cause credibility, prestige, branding and popularity for it. This research has adopted a descriptive-analytical method. The research data are collected with the library method. The research findings pointed to two categories of long-term and short-term measures that states can take in line with medical diplomacy, and the consequences of these measures include: the development of relations with other countries, especially developing countries, introducing Iranian culture to the world, Promoting Iran's prestige and position in the International arena, branding for Iran and gaining credit, image-making from Iran in abroad as an advanced and successful state, helping to resistance to sanctions against Iran, laying the groundwork for trade development and the prosperity of the medical tourism industry.