Foreign relations of Iran

Geography plays a crucial role in shaping Iran's foreign policy. After the 1979 Iranian Revolution, the newly established Islamic Republic, led by Ayatollah Khomeini, made a significant shift from the pro-American stance adopted by the last Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. Since then, the country's policies have fluctuated between two opposing approaches: one driven by revolutionary zeal to eradicate non-Muslim Western influences while promoting the Islamic revolution globally, and the other focused on pragmatism aimed at fostering economic development and normalizing international relations. As a result, Iran's bilateral interactions can often appear confusing and contradictory.