Assessing the Components and Elements of Convergence between Iran and the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council Member States

The geopolitical Persian Gulf region consists of the states that have innumerable grounds of divergence and convergence in relations to each other because of their structural and functional characteristics. Employing the method of field research, this article seeks to identify and understand the elements of convergence between the Islamic Republic of Iran and members states of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The findings of this research have been assessed in light of the four variables of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. The results of the study show that diplomatic-political elements constitute the most influential factors within the category of “strengths”, social-cultural elements are more important than others within the category of “weaknesses”, diplomatic-political factors have the greatest impact within the category of “opportunities”, and finally military-security elements are the most significant factors within the category of “threats”. Therefore, political and strategic planners and policy-makers are required to give serious consideration to these factors and elements.