نوع مقاله : سیاست خارجی ایران
نویسندگان
1 استادیار علوم سیاسی، گروه علوم سیاسی ، دانشکده حقوق و علوم اجتماعی ، دانشگاه پیام نور، تهران ، ایران
2 استادیار گروه حقوق دانشگاه پیام نور- تهران:ایران
3 مدرس دانشگاه، گروه حقوق و علوم سیاسی ،دانشکده حقوق و علوم اجتماعی ، دانشگاه پیام نور، تهران ، ایران
چکیده
کلیدواژهها
عنوان مقاله [English]
نویسندگان [English]
The unilateral sanctions and maximum pressure of the United States against the Islamic Republic of Iran, which intensified with the country’s withdrawal from the JCPOA, not only failed to achieve their initial goal of changing the behavior or regime of the Islamic Republic, but also became a determining factor, driving a fundamental change in Iran’s macro-diplomatic orientation in the international arena.This systematic pressure, which severely limited Iran’s access to global markets, financial resources, and technology, prompted the Iranian government and decision-making institutions to adopt the “pivot to the East” strategy, not as a choice but as an inevitable necessity, in search of solutions to break the imposed isolation and ensure its economic and political security.The unilateral sanctions imposed by the United States—particularly following its official withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action(JCPOA) in 2018—have had profound and multidimensional effects on the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran.This study seeks to analyze the relationship between sanction pressures and the redefinition of Iran’s diplomatic strategy, answering the key question: How did the structure of sanctions and the elite perception in Iran shift the country’s foreign policy orientation from West to East?
The research method is analytical-descriptive, based on qualitative content analysis of documentary sources, official statements, elite discourse, institutional reports, and theoretical literature. The theoretical framework integrates neorealism (systemic pressure) with contemporary foreign policy analysis (agency and perception). Data were collected and examined for the period between 2018 and 2023.
Findings indicate that the U.S. “maximum pressure” strategy, coupled with Europe’s failure to implement compensatory mechanisms such as INSTEX, led to a deep strategic distrust within Iran's decision-making elite. Consequently, Iran gradually reoriented its foreign policy from engagement with the West toward an East-oriented diplomacy and participation in a non-Western order. This transformation is reflected in the 25-year strategic agreement with China, increased cooperation with Russia, full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and a formal bid to join BRICS. In conclusion, Iran’s post-JCPOA foreign policy has evolved from a reactive approach to a strategic realignment, with the doctrine of “balancing against hegemony” replacing “constructive engagement with the West.
کلیدواژهها [English]
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