Influence of Geography on Iran’s Strategic Posture

Abstract

Nation-states formulate viable strategies for attaining national objectives and employ all the means of
power at their disposal, which may primarily be its geographic attributes or the diplomatic, economic,
human, and military power. While political, financial, diplomatic as well as military goals shape the
strategic thinking of a state, the geography either facilitates the achievement of a country’s national
objectives or places certain constraints over its policy formulation. Hence, the geographic location of a
state is regarded as the only constant among all factors influencing its strategic options while all other
aspects are variables. Iran’s geographic significance in the South-West Asian Eurasian rim emanates
from its ancient Persian legacy, oldest continuously inhabited civilization, and geographic proximity
with energy-rich regions. Thus, the geographical disposition of the country and the consequential
potential of influencing the regional strategic dynamics have the most pronounced impact on the
Iranian strategic posture.