Evaluative Approach to the Foreign Policy of Islamic Republic of Iran: with an Emphasis on East and Shanghai Cooperative Organization

Researches on the strategies toward the nations of East Asia aim to evaluate the possibilities of attaining political and security interests of Islamic republic of Iran in case of increasing cooperation with these nations. Present Iranian strategies toward East are so formulated to make Iran able to neutralize the negative ramification of unilateral confrontation approaches taken by the West against Iran. So، it is tried in this article to examine how Iran could pursue its national interest within the nations of East Asia. These nations with their somewhat contrasting ideological approaches provide unfavorable conditions for Iran to formulate a coherent strategy for mutual cooperation in various areas of significant to Iran. This author believes that regionalism with an eastern approach best serves our national interest at the present time. Identity and cultural similarities’ of Islamic republic of Iran with those of these nations in East Asia provides an ample opportunity for us to pursue our security and economic objectives. Pursuing a coherent policy could provide and ensure the strategic and security necessities in the long run. Shanghai Cooperation Organization with two permanent members (Russia and China) of UN Security Council having more than one-third of the world population، vast territory and economic ability heralds a potentially powerful coalition in the future. Islamic republic of Iran with its present observation role in this organization and also the demand to become its permanent members leads to certain implications which within the framework and opportunities of membership facilitate the analysis of Iranian foreign policy. In this article، we aim to assess Iranian membership in this organization on four dimensions of Iranian politics، security، economic and culture. On this basis، we first apply theoretical explanations of the origin and continuation of Shanghai Organization. Having done this، we then study the effect of Iranian membership in this organization on dimensions of politics، security، economic and culture. Finally، the probability and improbability of Iran to become the permanent member of Shanghai Organization will be discussed and suggestions، based on our findings، will be made to the Iranian diplomatic approach.