The Role and Status of the Economy in Iran's National Power

National power refers to a concept in which governments determine the national, regional, and international Status of a country by utilizing their potential and actual material and spiritual resources, relying on their governance methods and leadership quality within society. After the Cold War, economic strength has become one of the most important pillars for strengthening the national power of countries. In this research, using an analytical-explanatory method and relying on written and online sources, we aim to answer the question: "Considering the relative importance of the economy in global and regional competitions and its increasing role in the national power of countries, why has the role of this significant factor been weak in Iran's national power?" The hypothesis put forward to answer this question is that "although the economy has been emphasized and attended to in Iran's macro-level policymaking, it has not been a priority in the implementation of the country's governance system." The examination of theoretical foundations and the role of the economy in Iran's national power indicates that the primary reason for the diminished role of the economy lies in the increased pressure of sanctions and threats, which prioritized military deterrence capabilities in the country. Furthermore, an idealistic approach to development and the mismatch between many program objectives and reality resulted in their failure, diminishing the role of the economy in the country's national power.