افشین متقی

The Islamic Revolution in Iran profoundly transformed the regional dynamics of West Asia. Over the past few decades, Iran and Saudi Arabia, two major regional powers, have held fundamentally different and often conflicting ideologies, priorities, and goals for regional peace and stability (Zehraa et al., 2018). These differences became even more pronounced in 2010 and with the emergence of movements and uprisings known as the Islamic Awakening. While Iran supported these uprisings, the prospect of such movements extending into Saudi Arabia became a nightmare for its leaders and monarchy. Consequently, countering these uprisings became the top priority for the Saudi leadership. The two nations found themselves entangled in a complex web of suspicion and tension, which escalated over the subsequent years and ultimately led to the formal severance of diplomatic relations in 2016. Although the resumption of relations in 2023, after seven years, offers a glimmer of hope for a new chapter, it is essential to remain realistic and avoid excessive optimism or idealism. In fact, numerous challenges lie ahead for both nations, as deep-seated differences remain unresolved. For example, immediately after the reopening of embassies, the two countries faced new issues, including the Arash Gas Field and discussions about Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords. Normalizing relations is just the first step, and both nations now find themselves on the threshold of making crucial decisions about their future. After years of extensive tension and conflict, both sides are now sitting at the negotiation table. The potential for a new chapter marked by cooperation and understanding is within reach. Yet, can they break free from the current cycle of tension and discord? Will they continue their efforts to reduce tension? How may future global and regional events impact their measures? There are also other and relevant questions about the future of Iran–Saudi Arabia relations, so the future of their relations remains uncertain and ambiguous. The present study aimed to address the following questions: What are the possible scenarios for Saudi Arabia’s foreign policy towards the Islamic Republic of Iran in the 2030 horizons?

Literature Review:

Naderi and Tajik (2018) presented three scenarios for the future of Iran–Saudi relations: 1) the end of doubts (confrontation), 2) constructive chaos (support for the Axis of Resistance), and 3) stand-up fist (balance of power). They believe the likely scenarios are constructive chaos and stand-up fist. Dehghani-Firouzabadi et al. (2021) found that subjective, identity, and semantic factors (e.g., a lack of shared identity, perceived threats, and differing definitions of security) would significantly impact the relations between the two countries over the next decade. In The Saudi–Iranian Rivalry and the Future of Middle East Security, Terrill (2011) revealed that conflict and deep tension between the two countries have prevented the creation of link loops. In an article titled “Muting the Trumpets of Sabotage: Saudi Arabia, the US and the Quest to Securitize Iran,” Mabon (2017) claimed that Saudi would continue its efforts to reduce Iran’s regional influence. In “The Prospect of the Relationship Between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Saudi Arabia: Plausible Scenarios”, Diansaee and Yurtaev (2017) indicated that due to historical background and conflicting interests, the probable scenario governing the relations between the two countries would be one of tension and conflict. Likewise, Rostami et al. (2016) considered continued tensions and differences as the likely future scenario for Iran–Saudi relations.The studies reviewed above are predominantly characterized by deep pessimism, leading to reductionism. They also depicted tension and conflict as the only scenario, ignoring alternative futures or surprise endings. Moreover, they focused solely on near-term relations without clarifying Saudi Arabia’s perspective on Iran over the next seven years. To address these limitations, the current study took a balanced approach to examine Saudi Arabia’s future scenarios about Iran in the 2030 horizon.

The current study employed a future-oriented approach and the GBN technique to present scenarios about Iran–Saudi relations. Relying on Schwartz’s eight steps for developing and designing scenarios, the study identified the influential variables on the topic through documentary and field research, particularly interviews with experts. The key drivers were identified as those with higher average scores in the two components of importance and uncertainty. The calculation process was based on the geometric mean. The result was displayed in a 2-D matrix, with one dimension representing importance and the other representing uncertainty. In the next step, key uncertainties of each key driver were identified. The logic of the scenarios was then designed based on the intersection of the key drivers and their key uncertainties. The final scenarios were named, and the narrative for each was written.

The study examined and developed four scenarios for the future of Iran–Saudi relations. Each scenario briefly represents the factors and potential tensions between the two countries. In Scenario A, Saudi Arabia moves towards reducing tension and fostering cooperation with Iran, pursuing a balancing strategy with Chinese assistance. In Scenario B, Saudi Arabia enters a phase of heightened tension amidst the conflict with Iran, fueled by the U.S. and Israel. In Scenario C, while Saudi Arabia emphasizes tensions, China plays a constructive role in a détente between the two countries. In Scenario D, Saudi Arabia relies on soft diplomacy to reduce tensions with Iran.

According to the research findings and evidence, Scenario A emerges as the most probable. The rationale is that Scenario C and Scenario D exhibit internal inconsistencies. Additionally, Scenario B is undesirable for both countries, as prolonged tensions and conflicts could initiate a new cycle of disputes and hostilities. Currently, both countries strive for strategic stability and acknowledge their roles in regional equilibrium.

The Hajj not only provides a way to get closer to God, but also offers social, educational, economic and political benefits to pilgrims. Hajj cultural diplomacy has the potential to be effective in creating world and regional peace and security. History has shown that whenever cultural contexts are strengthened, the contexts of resentment and enmity between people diminish, and war and bloodshed succeed, and peace is restored. Unifying diplomacy that brings peace and security is accompanied by rationality and reason, and it is the Hajj ritual that provides the ground for unity and solidarity and avoids strife and division. Therefore, Hajj is a political and social worship that includes a set of divine laws and commands to achieve happiness in this world and the hereafter; And the rituals included in this divine religion are a unifying and peace-creating mixture that if we pay attention to the true philosophy of Hajj rituals and perform its deeds correctly, Muslims can achieve happiness in this world and the hereafter and a single Islamic nation but also above that society. Form an Islamic world. In this research, descriptive-analytical method has been used. The results of the research show that Hajj rituals are an exercise for establishing logical communication and dialogue between Islamic religions; and the correct use of this great Islamic position can bring the Islamic religions closer.

Cyber space cannot be fully understood without understanding the role of space. Cyber ​​space is a complex, decentralized and dynamic space with many components and diverse features. Therefore, the field of cyberspace geography is relatively new and much more variable than other environments. But what initially seemed like the Internet was supposed to end geography; But this was not the case and the cyber space was used as a complement to the geographical space. Therefore, in the current era, each of the geographical sciences seeks to understand the dimensions of cyber space, among which political geography is a science that discusses and examines the concepts of cyber space. Based on this, the current research is based on the method of content analysis and the use of library data in order to answer the question, what is the conceptualization and scope of the political geography of cyber space? The findings show that cyberspace and related technologies are one of the most important sources of power in the third millennium. Therefore, cyberspace is considered one of the geopolitical power generating components for countries; So that today powerful countries influence other countries by using the capacities of cyber space. On this basis, the political geography of cyberspace is formed from human action with a political dimension on cyberspace. Therefore, political geographers can study the cyberspace and present plans to the statesmen to organize this space in line with [its better management].

"The geopolitical transformations and events of the 21st century have fundamentally altered many related concepts. The rise of globalization alongside factors such as technological advancements, information revolutions, and shifts in the global power system have transformed the concept of national security. These phenomena, along with increased public awareness, have shifted security from a hardware-oriented concept to a software-oriented one. Parallel to these tangible and mental transformations, in the theoretical realm, scholars have reformed their perspectives and theories on security matters. However, many security theories, especially the two main schools of realism and liberalism along with their branches such as structural realism and neoliberal institutionalism, have failed to adequately explain and elucidate many national and international security policies. These theories, by emphasizing the structural impacts on national policies (structural realism) and ascribing self-made national interests of governments (neoliberalism), lack the predictive power of national interests for political units (governments). This issue notably presents itself more prominently in the analysis of the national security policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran, especially during transitional periods. Many researchers, while either unable to explain the national security policies of the country by presuming systemic theoretical assumptions (neo-realism or neoliberalism), or in most cases, label them contrary to national interests (presumed). Realist and liberal perspectives in explaining the national security policies of countries such as Iran, particularly in current conditions, primarily consider the position of states within the international structural environment merely based on their physical capabilities. Secondly, they regard the similar influence of institutional constraints on state interests as definite, portraying states as rational actors driven solely by interests and by emphasizing the rationality of instrumental actors and marginalizing the meaningful-identity and normative realities, they emphasize the selectivity of actors within international structures or institutions. However, the study of the interests and national security policy of a country like the Islamic Republic of Iran, especially in current transitional conditions, demands a different type of theoretical approach. Considering these points, this study employs a constructivist theory to analyze and examine the effects of shared symbolic structures, ideas, norms, and values, and 'identity' on the 'National Security Policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran' in the current international system."

"The method of research refers to the techniques or actual procedures for gathering and analyzing data. The methodology employed in this research is descriptive-analytical. Given that the macro approach for dissecting and analyzing data is non-statistical, it is approached descriptively and argumentatively within the framework of the indicators of the constructivist approach and its central premise, namely identity, foundations, and geo-cultural outcomes of the Iranian society. In this regard, initially, to understand the societal construct of identity and the system of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the fundamentals and elements constituting the internal cultural-normative environment were examined. From within these, the impactful geo-cultural outcomes on the national security policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran during the transition in the international system have been examined and analyzed."

Iranian geo-culture emerges from the foundations of Iranian cultural-identity in three main domains: geography (language, location, race, resources, etc.), history (events, transitions, mythology), and religion. It spans across four cultural-identity layers: Ancient Iran, Shiite Islam, Modernism, and the Islamic Revolution, each with its significant place in the cultural, historical, geographical, and religious dimensions. Iranian identity, owing to Iran's unique geographical position, has been influenced by three Iranian civilizational spheres: Iranian, Islamic, and Western, continuously maintaining a mixed or amalgamated structure, observed in its amalgamation of elements like 'Iranian identity,' 'Islamic,' and 'Western modernism' at a general level. The manifestation of these three elements has constructed contemporary Iranian identity. Consequently, Iranian identity has always evolved due to historical, political, and social reasons, while the multiple and conflicting dimensions have resulted in a multifaceted Iranian identity, implying complexity and development. Iranians have drawn from pre-Islamic thoughts while adopting Islam, indicating a shared historical and geographical mindset, termed as 'Iranian identity,' which has remained resilient despite historical changes. Alongside this identity, Islamic culture and religious frameworks have intertwined, each reinforcing the other. A crucial point regarding the national Iranian identity is that it's not solely Iranian or Islamic but rather an Iranian-Islamic identity. After the victory of the Islamic Revolution, due to the alignment of governance discourse with the societal religious identity, religious discourse has exerted a greater influence on Iran's cultural and political identity than other elements. Regarding the impact of Iranian cultural-identity layers and geo-culture on Iran's foreign policy and national security, it should be noted that Iran's geopolitical realities have influenced its geo-cultural foundations, deriving from its historical, Shiite Islamic, modern, and post-Islamic revolution foundations. Additionally, Iranian cultural factors are undergoing change and transformation in the transitional phase of the international system, affecting the formations and dynamics of Iranian cultural identity and potentially paving the way for a new discourse in its cultural identity.

In this study, the influential foundations and outcomes of Iran's geo-culture on the national security policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran during the transitional period of the international system have been examined and analyzed. The theoretical framework of this research is constructivism, with its central focus being on identity. Since cultural and identity constructs are the central theme of the constructivist theory, the geo-cultural (cultural-identity) resources of Iran have been elucidated and explained to comprehend and analyze the national security policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran during the transitional phase of the international system. This effort aims to achieve a comprehensive understanding of the country's national security policy to pursue appropriate strategies in positioning the country's geopolitical weight and its status in line with the material and spiritual capabilities within the forthcoming global order. To articulate and elaborate on the aspects of Iranian geo-culture, three fundamental steps have been undertaken: The first step delves into the foundations of Iranian geo-culture. The subsequent step dissects the four-layered cultural-identity elements of Iran, which have been the bedrock of Iranian culture and identity. The final step scrutinizes the cultural-identity outcomes of Iran, encompassing: Iranian spirit and Iran-centricity Idealism Non-submission and assertiveness for independence Distrust of the foreign Iranian re-evaluation and aspiration for superiority Justice-seeking and aversion to oppression Endurance and resilience Adaptation and interaction in foreign relations Pursuit of national interest These cultural-identity outcomes have been studied and analyzed as influential factors on the national security policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Overall, it can be stated that the Iranian identity, a product of the Iranian cultural-identity foundations, has been produced, reproduced, and reconstructed over time across the layers of ancient Iranian, Islamic-Shiite, modernism, and the Islamic Revolution."

As the center of developments on local, regional, national, and global scales, and the site of influential actors, Tehran's metropolitan area has long been a stage for political power dynamics. Additionally, the presence of geopolitical drivers has further elevated its position in power relations. The central question of this research was this: What are the drivers and future scenarios of power relations in Tehran Metropolis? This was an applied research study with an exploratory nature. To answer the research question, indicators were extracted through a multi-stage interview process involving 30 elite experts and an elite panel. The Delphi method was also used to screen the propellants. The data were analyzed using the MicMac and Scenario Wizard software. The research results revealed 45 possible situations across 7 scenarios with strong and likely compatibilities. Based on the scenario table of geopolitical drivers affecting the future of power relations in Tehran Metropolis, 33.33% were in a favorable situation, 41.6% were in a semi-favorable situation, and 25% were in a static situation. The 1st and 2nd scenario boards were the most prominent in terms of position.

Islamic identity as one of the main pillars of Islamic civilization, expresses the existence, dynamism, originality and rich culture of Muslims around the world. Today, Islamic identity has been widely attacked by the enemies and opponents of dissent due to the ideology derived from the sublime principles of Islam based on monotheism, justice and belief in divine reckoning. On the other hand, since the category of identity, on the one hand, originates from the nation and nationality, and on the other hand, is the product of a nation's geographical environment, it is considered one of the basic concepts in political geography and consequently a geopolitical factor. Therefore, strengthening and promoting the effectiveness and dignity of Islamic identity is essential for the widespread civilization of Islam on a global scale, and in this regard, it seems that Hajj and its resulting diplomacy are a good and irreplaceable opportunity for synergy. Deep down, and strengthen the foundations of the identity of the Islamic Ummah.It seems that the geopolitical analysis of the actions and interactions of the Hajj diplomacy process and the influence and identity effects of the Islamic Ummah during this global event can draw the desired perspective in this process, so in this study. By using meta-positive methodologies and analyzing the conditions governing Hajj and its diplomacy, we can see how the geopolitical conflict of Islamic identity in Hajj diplomacy; He enumerated and finally presented a geopolitical horizon for strengthening the Islamic identity derived from the successful diplomacy of Hajj

The method of this research is (mixed) and MICMAC software was used. The results of the research showed that 5 challenges have been identified as the most influential factors on the security environment of the Republic of Iran, which according to the matrix of direct and indirect effects, it can be said that the index A10 (creating a balance of power against the growing power of the Islamic Republic of Iran) is placed in the first rank of direct and indirect influence. Index A8 (the UAE's cooperation with the international policies of the United States in the region and the maximum pressure on the Republic of Iran) has been placed in the second rank of direct and indirect influence. Index A9 (efforts to curb the thinking of the Islamic revolution and prevent the penetration and expansion of the axis of resistance) has been placed in the third rank of direct and indirect influence. Index A4 (conducting war maneuvers and exercises with the Zionist regime) is placed in the fourth rank of direct and indirect influence. Index A6 (strengthening of military-industrial relations with some Mediterranean partners) has been placed in the fifth rank of direct and indirect influence.

The development of different types of cryptocurrencies has caused this technology to find various applications in the economy of societies. This type of currency does not belong to any government and its value is determined by the demand of human society. Since digital currencies are electronic and do not have costs such as service fees, taxes, maintenance costs, etc., they are considered the most flexible type of money. However, it should be noted that the transfer of virtual money is not supported by any central service provider or institution. According to what has been discussed, nowadays, the implementation of governance in the world requires effective levers, one of the most important of these levers is the economic lever. Governments can use economic levers to shape political demands and take advantage of it, which is sometimes not the case in the field of cryptocurrencies and can become challenging issues in the economic and territorial fields of countries in the coming years. Considering the influential role of cryptocurrencies in the future economy of the world and the tremendous effects of this type of monetary channels on the relations between governments and sometimes their impact on the economic arteries of governments in the coming years, this research seeks to explain the scenarios of cryptocurrencies by entering into their financial and monetary flows. which addresses this issue by identifying the most important actors and drivers affecting the issue.

The current research is applied in terms of its purpose and in terms of its nature and method, it is an exploratory description based on a qualitative approach and aims to collect data in order to conceptualize and provide prescriptive analysis. Considering the importance of the research subject and considering that its main goal is scenario development regarding the consequences of cryptocurrencies on the geo-economic policies of governments, it has been tried to pay attention to the effective factors and drivers in the various fields of cryptocurrencies and their economic policies. Therefore, the identification of heterogeneous and efficient experts has played a significant role in this research, and for this purpose, the statistical population of this research has been redefined and includes experts and experts who have the ability to provide analytical assistance to the research goals. Regarding the methods of information gathering and scenario writing method, first, in order to review the literature, a scientific and specialized library review was done, then in the next stages, brainstorming methods and expert panels were used. The main scenario writing method of the research is based on the Global Business Network (GBN) model scenario.

In this article, based on the scenario method in the inferential approach, an attempt was made to identify important and influential actors on cryptocurrencies and their role on the governments' financial and credit policies, effective drivers and related uncertainties were also identified using experts' opinions. Based on the above findings, it is possible to write believable scenarios and finally five scenarios were drawn for the future of this field. The findings of the research showed that the key influential actors include the media and social networks with very large and popular users in the country (such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.), scientific and academic societies inside and outside the country, international economic and financial institutions (such as the International Fund International Monetary Fund and FATF), financing of terrorism, opportunities and challenges of cryptocurrencies, and the most important drivers are the development of governance of digital currencies in the world, user trust in the exploitation and exchanges of digital currencies, the formalization of exchanges based on digital currencies, the development of the digital economy, the impact of digital currencies In the economy of a country, motivational factors for the production of digital currencies, the development of systems and technologies based on digital currencies and blockchain, global crises (such as the Corona epidemic), disruption of the management of the current affairs of countries, the irreversibility of digital currency transactions, anonymity or semi-anonymity The presence of wallet addresses, economic and political tension between countries, the possibility of making unlimited transactions, the conflict between countries' laws and money laundering laws, the functional role of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), organized fraud. with cryptocurrencies on the blockchain platform.

According to experts, by identifying four key uncertainties, i.e. the trust or lack of trust of users in the exploitation and exchanges of digital currencies, the formalization or non-formalization of exchanges based on digital currencies in the economy and monetary exchanges of societies, the development or non-development of the digital economy based on digital currencies. Disrupting the management of the current affairs of the countries or improving the management situation of the governments in the use of cryptocurrencies, sixteen uncertain atmospheres were created, and the scenarios were written by checking their credibility. In the most desirable scenario, governments use the benefits and wide and international applications of cryptocurrencies to increase their geo-economic weight. The creation of cryptocurrencies is a revolution in financial markets. Cryptocurrencies have managed to find their place in the global economy with their amazing performance over the last few years. Many large companies and investors use cryptocurrencies to diversify their investment portfolio and long-term investments. Also, people have a positive view of the future of cryptocurrencies, on the other hand, by using cryptocurrencies in financial relations and monetary exchanges, governments improve the management situation and current businesses develop their progress through the establishment of the governing flow of society's money and create There is no excessive money in the economy, which leads to controlling inflation.

The position of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers is in the least compatible with national borders or with the political and strategic considerations of regional countries. The sources of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers are located in Turkey, and Turkish authorities believe they own the resources. A project called "Gap" or "Anatolian" in the framework of the construction of more than 22 dams and 19 hydroelectric projects and development of the agricultural system in the Tigris and Euphrates watersheds has been on the Turkish governmentchr('39')s agenda by 2023, reflecting the security threat. The environmental and water security of the downstream countries (Iraq, Syria and Iran) have been demonstrated. The present study is based on the assumption of reflecting the Hydropolitic relations of the Tigris and Euphrates basin (based on Gap Project) with the viewpoint of continuing climate change and changing rainfall patterns and increasing water use in downstream countries using library resources. In the form of a threat to the security of the southwestern areas of Iran, it will intensify. The results showed that the consequences of the Hydropolitic approach of the Tigris and Euphrates countries, especially Turkey, besides threatening environmental security, affect other aspects of security in the economic, social and political spheres in the southwest of the country.

A B S T R A C T
Urban tourism is one of the most dynamic and essential components of the current development of cities, which is effective in branding at (local, national, and international) levels. Therefore, the issue of the current research is, what are the drivers that are effective on the future state of tourism geopolitics of Tehran metropolis, and what is the relationship between these variables in terms of influence and effectiveness? This research method is quantitative-qualitative (mixed), and the future studies approach has been used in its analysis. The research findings show that in the first stage, 30 factors were identified with the Delphi method. What can be understood from the state of dispersion of variables affecting the geopolitical state of tourism in the Tehran metropolis is the system's unstable state; most of the variables are scattered around the diagonal axis of the plane. Therefore, four categories can be identified (influential, two-dimensional, influential, and independent factors). The results of the research showed that five variables have been identified as the most influential factors in the tourism geopolitics of the Tehran metropolis, including in terms of direct and indirect influence matrix; it can be said that the H1 index (private sector investments) is ranked first in direct and indirect influence. Index A5 (hotels, malls, and large commercial centers) is ranked second in terms of direct and indirect influence. Index H8 (holding festivals, exhibitions, conferences, and seminars) is ranked third in terms of direct and indirect influence. The C4 index (economic centrality) is ranked fourth in terms of direct and indirect influence. Index A4 (Urban Metro) is ranked fifth in terms of direct and indirect influence.
Extended Abstract
Today, in the 21st century, tourism has become one of the most critical functions of cities, and this function is so vital that it provides the basis for cities to obtain much economic capital and, in the next step, to establish themselves as an important city among other ones to propose. Also, this function has become important in such a way that it has provided the ground for the competition of cities to accept more tourists, which we can call the geopolitics of urban tourism which cities have become so essential and are seeking to increase their functions, especially the function of tourism as a global city to compete with other cities at (local, national, regional and global) levels. The current research employs a future studies approach to identify the geopolitical factors driving urban tourism in Tehran; this will help select key drivers for planning the future of tourism.
 
This article is a mixed type of research (quantitative-qualitative). Therefore, in order to answer the research question, its indicators have been extracted with the help of a multi-stage interview with eight experts and an elite panel and refined based on structural analysis.  Drawing the future is based on these indicators. Thus, the Delphi method has been used to screen these indicators. Structural analysis of this question has been done with the help of Mic Mac software to refine indicators and variables in the direction of forecasting, and the presented future is also exploratory in terms of typology. Finally, by identifying and extracting relevant components and selecting panel members based on expertise, the components that did not get the necessary points were removed from the questionnaire, and the final questionnaire was designed in the form of (number zero; no effect), (number one; low impact), (number two; medium impact), (number three; high impact), were provided to the respondents to rate each component.
 
As a place with the most natural and human tourist attractions, Tehran city spends the most urban expenses on building tourist places to attract tourists and earn more foreign currency. Thus, improving the quality of urban life in Tehran is affected by various factors that exist in Tehran. Therefore, in this context, the development of tourism in Tehran is considered as a source of changing economic, social and environmental characteristics, which has the potential to be effective in improving the quality of urban life. In any case, Tehran, following the example of European cities in building entertainment environments, has the first rank in the country, as these entertainment environments are available in all parts of Tehran. Many of these environments in Tehran are well known in the country, attracting many tourists from different cities. Nevertheless, it can be said that the entertainment industry (urban tourism) is one of the geopolitical components of Tehran metropolis, which provides the ground for the development of Tehran compared to other cities. The existing findings show that, due to the transition process, tourism in Tehran will become a geopolitical issue on a national and transnational scale, and it is necessary to identify the driving forces affecting its importance.
 
The present research was conducted to identify the drivers influencing the tourism geopolitics of Tehran metropolis. Scientific and logical tools are necessary in order to identify and determine the key effective drivers on the geopolitics of tourism in Tehran metropolis with a future studies approach like other approaches, based on the results obtained from the structural analysis in the Mic Mac software, 30 factors such as key variables were selected for the hydropolitical relations of the Zayandeh-Rood watershed. These drivers, in order of priority, include private sector investments H1, hotels, malls, and large commercial centers A5, holding festivals, exhibitions, conferences and seminars H8, economic centrality C4, urban subway A4, financial resources A3, large sports complexes and cultural centers A10, urban symbols (both Azadi and Milad Tower) A6, holding sports events H7, central and focal location C1, political-administrative centrality C3, information-media centrality A1, production and industrial centrality C2, historical monuments and museums C6, technology and technology centrality A2, creation of large recreational structures (including nature bridge, cable car, ski lift, and amusement parks) A9, style administrative issues in tourism sectors H4, security and social welfare H5, strengthening medical and health tourism H2, places of pilgrimage (including courts and imamzadehs) C7, service and relief infrastructure capacity A8, Universities and the development of university-related disciplines H3, access to freeways and urban passages A7, judicial centrality C5, artists (including actors, singers, and musicians) H6, favorable climate N1, forest parks and urban spaces greenery N3, natural landscapes (mountains and green meadows) N5, the extent and quality of space N2, plant and animal species N4 were obtained as the most influential variables in the future of tourism geopolitics of Tehran metropolis.
 
Funding
There is no funding support.
 
Authors’ Contribution
All of the authors approved the content of the manuscript and agreed on all aspects of the work.
 
Conflict of Interest
Authors declared no conflict of interest.
 
Acknowledgments
We are grateful to all the scientific consultants of this paper.

Syria is one of Iran’s strategic partners in the political and security fields and it was one of the first countries that after the Islamic Revolution, recognized the Islamic Republic of Iran, and hence the official relations between the two countries began. Syria, as one of the countries affecting the resistance, has been involved in the internal crisis imposed by the West and its regional allies since late January 2011, causing heavy losses to the country. With the role of Iran and other Syrian allies, the relative security in the country is established and with the start of the reconstruction period, it is necessary to compensate for the damage caused by the crisis by restoring the power of the past and strengthening its important economic and commercial sectors. As a strategic ally of Syria, the Islamic republic of Iran is now able to expand its presence in the west Asia region from the military - security layer to the economic layer with its role in the reconstruction period. The article seeks to show what level Iran is in the political economy over to its regional rivals, and how it is based on its competence to support the Syrian government. using the descriptive-analytical method, this paper studies Syria's civil war and its need for trade and the provision of commercial and business space, owners of capital and business and business owners can invest in this country and provide a good economic benefit to Iranian and Iranian investors .

The Mediterranean-Arab (Arab-Med) Corridor of India to Europe is an emerging multi-faceted trade corridor that could fundamentally alter trade patterns between the Indian Ocean region, the Middle East, and Europe by creating a crescent of trade connectivity on the southern edge of Eurasia from the coasts. The Arabian Sea of India will change to the eastern Mediterranean coast of Greece. For India, this new corridor is a strategic paradigm shift with huge geopolitical implications that could change its role in the Eurasian economic order. Based on this, the current research, which was carried out in a descriptive-analytical way, seeks to answer the question of what effect does the Arab-fashion corridor have on the new architecture in the trans-regional connection? The hypothesis of this research is that the Arab-Med Corridor is creating an alternative trans-regional trade architecture in which the UAE ports can act as the connecting point of the Indian Ocean to create a separate trade corridor from India to Europe and India to The title introduces a new power to the world with the ability to create transregional commercial architecture. The establishment of a Mediterranean terminal - from Haifa to the European mainland at the Greek port of Piraeus - means that Indian goods sent to UAE ports can reach the main markets and production centers of Europe.

The peripheral region of the subcontinent holds significant geopolitical importance in the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic. Due to the dynamics of the international system and regional developments, the absence of a coherent foreign policy roadmap has resulted in missed opportunities for Iran in this region. This study aims to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of Iran's foreign policy strategy, propose solutions to enhance national power, and suggest strategies for the subcontinent region. Employing a descriptive-analytical approach, data collection involved library research and documentary analysis. The findings reveal that Iran's foreign policy strategy in the subcontinent operates at two levels. Firstly, it encompasses the entire subcontinent, where Iran seeks to enhance its relations across political, economic, social, cultural, and security domains. Simultaneously, Iran endeavors to develop a comprehensive strategy for its foreign policy within the subcontinent. Secondly, Iran tailors its strategy based on the geopolitical interests and concerns of individual subcontinental countries. By adopting a geopolitical approach rooted in Islamic thought, Iran can formulate a coherent foreign policy strategy aligned with its regional and global roles. This approach ensures Iran's active engagement in regional affairs while maintaining its principles and interests.  

Political units are searching so that they can use their abilities in wider areas more than others. in order to be considered as a dominant actor in the history of the international system. In fact, the examination and explanation of foreign policy strategy and its impact on the function of governments has been neglected so far, which requires a high level of precision that from now on. Iran is located in Southwest Asia between 25-40 degrees north latitude and 45-63 degrees east longitude from the Greenwich meridian, with an area of 1.64 square kilometers, The Islamic Republic of Iran is located in one of the most sensitive geopolitical situations in the world, in such a way that active geopolitical regions with extensive functions have covered it and made this country a center of attraction for regional and global diplomacy. Since foreign policy and The performance of governments is derived from the geopolitical environment and the creation of interaction conditions lies in a set of their spatial and temporal behaviors. Despite the fact that the Islamic Republic of Iran has a strategic position, it is necessary to design and implement foreign policy on geopolitical bases along with effective interaction and creating have a mutual understanding of the conditions of time and place. In examining Iran's geopolitical position in the transformed world system, attention should be paid to Iran's position in South Asia. It is part of the integrated plateau of Iran. This country is one of the most sensitive geopolitical situations in the world. In a way that active geopolitical areas with wide and multiple functions have surrounded it and has made it as a center of attraction for regional and global diplomacy. Since the foreign policy and performance of governments is derived from the geopolitical environment and the creation of interaction conditions in a set of their spatial and temporal behaviors, The Islamic Republic of Iran, despite having a strategic position, it is necessary to design and implementation foreign policy on geopolitical bases with effective interaction and create a mutual understanding of time and place conditions. In the investigation of Iran's geopolitical position in the transformed world system Iran's position in South Asia (independent region) should be taken into consideration. A region where world powers have played a role in dividing their political space for many centuries without considering ethnic and cultural subjects. And they have always seen important alternations in different eras with changes in foreign policy objectives of major powers. In terms of strategy and geo-economics, the Islamic Republic of South Asia has the ability to be an influential player in this geopolitical region. The current research seeks to answer this question: "Given the importance and geopolitical position of the subcontinent region (India and Pakistan), what is the foreign policy strategy of the Islamic Republic of Iran to play a geopolitical role in this region?" According to the hypothesis of the research, some of the natural and human characteristics of the countries of the subcontinent with the Islamic Republic of Iran have similarities and similarities in different dimensions, political, economic, communal and military-security, and based on these similarities and spatial complementarity, the Islamic Republic Iran can develop optimal strategies to achieve the optimal long-term model of its foreign policy in the subcontinent. 

In terms of purpose, this research is a combination of theoretical and applied research, and in terms of nature and method, it is descriptive-analytical research. The method of collecting information is library and document methods. In these methods, using the study of authentic books and articles as well as the study of historical texts in order to explain the geopolitical strategy of the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the subcontinent.

As the findings show, in general, the situation in the subcontinent is such that Iran is simultaneously facing geopolitical opportunities and challenges in this region. Variables such as; Sustainable security of energy and the importance of resources, the existence of common geographical borders between Iran and Pakistan, the existence of cultural and religious commonalities with the subcontinent are among the influential geopolitical interests in formulating the foreign policy strategy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the subcontinent region. Against the intra-regional competition between India and Pakistan in the subcontinent, the negative impact of the current US sanctions on Iran's commercial and economic exchanges with Shanghai members, the lack of a clear position of China, India and Russia regarding the membership of the Islamic Republic of Iran in BRICS, doubts In the security and economic stability of the Islamic Republic, the replacement of the Afghan-Trans route instead of Iran to supply energy to South Asia, the presence of Israel in the subcontinent and the support of religious institutions that promote Wahhabism in South Asia are influential geopolitical challenges in formulating the foreign policy strategy of the Islamic Republic of Iran. They are in the geopolitical region of the subcontinent. Although the alignment of the policies of Iran and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in dealing with common threats, but the difference in understanding the meaning of terrorism and religious fundamentalism is one of the most important challenges facing Iran's foreign policy strategy in the field of performance with the subcontinent. 

One of the most important geopolitical regions surrounding Iran is the subcontinent (India and Pakistan). As the findings of this research showed, the geo-economic outlook and geo-political competitions are strengthening due to the two factors of energy and access to the sales market in the subcontinent. By using the analysis of the research findings, the foreign policy strategy of the Islamic Republic of Iran compatible with the geopolitical requirements based on the scale, in the subcontinental region has two levels or procedures; The first level includes the entire region of the subcontinent, and the Islamic Republic of Iran, while developing its relations in the political, economic, social, cultural, and security-military fields, along with the diplomacy of the second path, is trying to develop a coherent strategy in the aforementioned fields. to define his foreign policy in the subcontinent. The second level strategy is explained, revised and formulated separately based on interests, interests and geopolitical concerns, appropriate to each of the countries of the subcontinent region (India and Pakistan). The results show that the Islamic Republic of Iran, by taking the geopolitical approach as the basis of its foreign policy strategy, can codify a desirable foreign policy strategy based on Islamic thought that fits its role in the regional and global arena.

China, through its "String of Pearls" doctrine and the implementation of the "One Belt One Road (OBOR)" project, aims to establish hegemony over the Southeast, South, and West Asia, as well as North Africa regions. To achieve this objective, China has adopted a strategy to bolster its naval capabilities, safeguarding its maritime communication lines in the South China Sea, the Strait of Malacca, and even the northern Indian Ocean, including the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf. In this context, the Gwadar port and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) play significant roles in Beijing's foreign policy. In response, India is pursuing countermeasures by signing military and security agreements with the United States and its regional allies to strengthen its influence. This research, utilizing a descriptive-analytical approach, seeks to explore the nature of China's "String of Pearls" doctrine and examine the strategies India has adopted to counter it. The findings reveal that, in order to counter China's "String of Pearls," India has established the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), invested in the port of Chabahar, and signed an agreement with Oman to enhance its naval presence in the port of Duqm. While these measures may not place India in a superior or equal position to China, they provide Delhi with the necessary tools, in collaboration with the United States, to effectively challenge China's ambitions.

Iran's geopolitical position in the region has led to threats to the country at various times , which has made it inevitable for Iran to have full military readiness to counter the threats. And the need to strengthen the country's defense and defense power is a fundamental and important principle in the country's foreign policy. Geographical factors have a prominent and decisive role among the various factors affecting the country's defense power. In this study, in order to explain the priority and important geographical factors affecting Iran's defense power, by studying the documents and previous scientific records , and using the opinions of 30 experts. 73 Geographical factors were identified. In the second step , with the formation of the expert panel , similar factors were merged and 28 factors were identified. Then, based on the opinion of experts, the values of the factors were ranked and 16 important and effective factors were determined. And finally, by using the IPA importance-performance analysis method, the importance value and performance value of each factor is determined separately based on the five-point Likert scale, and according to the results obtained and the weighting of the factors, three priority factors that have high importance and performance And four factors with high importance and low performance were identified as important geographical factors affecting Iran's defense power.

Iran is at the center of the intervening regions due to its transit location, Iran is at the center of the intersection of the world's energy production and consumption; on the north-south vertical axis it is at the center of the two energy sources of the Persian Gulf and Central Asia and the Caucasus; and on the east-west axis it is at the center of two energy consuming regions of East Asia and Europe, which means that Iran has a privileged distribution position. Eight major transit routes are located in the peripheral region of Iran, which of course have different degrees of importance and progress. having and using the geo-economic position is an important factor in increasing the national power of countries. Iran is also in a favorable situation in terms of geo-economic situation but despite having geo-economic components, including in the area of transit location, it has not gained much in the use of this favorable potential. The purpose of this research is to investigate the geopolitical and geoeconomic capacities of the Silk Road to increase Iran's national power. The method of this research is descriptive-survey. The research results have been analyzed and evaluated using spss software. The results of the research show that activating the capacities of the Silk Road has a great role in increasing the geo-economic power and also ensuring the national security of the country. It also causes the growth of employment and national income, which itself is a factor of economic development and progress; Therefore, according to the fact that each of the mentioned indicators and parameters play a role in increasing national power, it can be concluded that Iran can use its position on the Silk Road to increase its national power and improve its geopolitical position.

In recent decades, India has become one of the emerging powers or rising powers in the international system. Because of India's rapid economic growth and the country's ever-increasing need for energy the Persian Gulf—as one of the top energy resource-rich regions in the world—have become attractive for the Indian politicians. The expansion of India's strategic interests in the Persian Gulf region (PGR), combined with the need to ensure the country's energy security has led New Delhi to explore the opportunity and possibility of military and security presence in the PGR. In recent years, India has consequently entered into a "strategic partnership" with several Persian Gulf countries and has started extensive defense-security cooperation with these states. The objectives of the present study are as follows: a) to explain the dimensions and components of India's defense diplomacy in the Persian Gulf region; and b) to examine the policy instruments which are used by India to secure its national interests and to protect its national security based on defense diplomacy.In the research hypothesis, it is assumed that there is a significant relationship between India's defense diplomacy in the Persian Gulf and its national security. India has explored the opportunities of defense cooperation with PG states in various fields, including cooperation in military training, joint military exercises and provision of resources, research and development (R& D), production and marketing of defense equipment in the PG countries in order to prevent the encirclement of India by China or Pakistan. The Indian policymakers want to expand their country’s relations with the US as the major provider of foreign aid for safeguarding national security interests of New Delhi. The theoretical framework of Anton de Plessis’s theory of military diplomacy is used. This political scientist defines this military type of diplomacy broadly as "the use of military personnel, including service dependents, to support conflict prevention and resolution”. Among a wide range of activities, military diplomacy includes providing foreign aid for the purpose of developing liable democratic armed forces. Du Plessis also provided a broader definition of military diplomacy as "the use of armed forces in operations other than war, relying on their expertise and trained discipline to achieve national and foreign goals abroad."For hypothesis testing, one-way analysis of variance (F test) has been used. The research findings show that the relationship between India's defense diplomacy in the Persian Gulf and its national security is significant at the confidence level of 0.99. Moreover, Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to estimate the strength and direction of the relationship between India's defense diplomacy in the Persian Gulf and the its national security. The Pearson correlation coefficient between two variables indicates that the intensity of the relationship between them is moderate and its direction is positive. In other words, India's defense diplomacy in the Persian Gulf moderately plays a role in protecting Indian national security.

The legal regime of common water resources remains the main concern of countries in the international river basin. In this regard, it seems difficult and unresolved just as before to determine the legal regime of these rivers, due to the different viewpoints of the coastal countries located in the basin of these rivers, on the extent and how to exploit these resources. In general, the approach of governments in the exploitation of these resources stems from two perspectives: a perspective accepts the problem of water scarcity and, with proper management, considers water as an important factor in regional cooperation. In contrast, the other one, given the certainty of conflict over natural resources, regards the conflict and crisis over common water resources as inevitable. Accordingly, the present article examines the governing principles of water resources exploitation of international rivers, assuming that the geographical location (upstream-downstream relations) and hydro-hegemonic position of coastal countries is effective in adopting the governing principles of international rivers. It has also dealt with the conformity ratio of these principles with the approaches and hydro-political attitudes of the countries in the basin of these rivers. The data and information required for the article have been collected through library method (books, publications and Internet). It seems that the adoption or development of governing principles of international rivers exploitation can be derived from the upstream-downstream position and the hydro-hegemonic status of the countries located at the basin of a river. While confirming the hypothesis and the effectiveness of hydropolitical approaches, the article has come to the conclusion that the principles with cooperation-oriented approaches of downstream countries or with low geopolitical weight and the principles with conflict-oriented approaches of upstream countries or with high geopolitical weight have received more attention and acceptance.

Regional Coalitions and organizations in the current world, which is moving towards a multipolar order, seem necessary to secure the interests of the members. The countries in the three regions of Central Asia, Southwest Asia, and West Asia have not been able to properly use the capacities of these regions due to the lack of an inclusive and efficient regional union and avoiding regionalism. The disputes and a pervasive power vacuum have turned these regions into a place of conflict between regional and extra-regional powers. The upcoming research has discussed the feasibility of forming a regional coalition centered on Nowruz celebration and culture by using a mixed approach (descriptive-analytical and survey) and SWOT strategic planning analysis. Documentary and library information and data obtained from 30 expert experts in political geography, political science, regional studies and Farsi language and literature from the countries of Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan was used. The results showed that despite the differences and weaknesses in the formation of the Nowruz Union, the final score of 2.56 out of 5 was obtained which indicates the high probability of forming a union, although the addition of economic and geo-economic strategies is necessary for the formation of such a coalition.

Considering the importance of the South Caucasus region for Iran, it is very important to know the geopolitical factors affecting the development of Iran's strategy in this region. The purpose of this research is to develop strategies for Iran in the South Caucasus region.

This research is based on the combined model of SWOT strategic analysis and QSPM strategic planning model. The current research is considered to be descriptive-analytical in terms of applied nature and in terms of study method. The method of data collection was library and field studies (questionnaire and interview).

The analysis from the SWOT model shows that although Iran has the capacities that can make it an important player in the Caucasus region, international sanctions, the presence and influence of regional and extra-regional powers near Iran, border tensions and armed conflicts, pressure from minorities Independence and autonomy, as well as the lack of infrastructure, are the main obstacles on the way to achieving this goal for Iran.

Originality: 

At the same time, the priority table of the selected QSPM strategies shows that among the six selected strategies, the strategy of strengthening trade relations between Iran and the Caucasus countries in the field of crude oil and gas, petrochemical products, steel, etc., has an attractiveness score of 93.4 compared to others. Strategies are of high priority.

The border and territorial disputes between the Caucasus countries in the last 3 decades have caused insecurity and spread it to the neighboring countries, and the conflict of interests has created a kind of three-level intra-regional, extra-regional and global competition and has caused the formation of a geopolitical crisis in the region, which has the consequences of Among them are the possibility of cutting the border between Iran and Armenia, the rise of Turkey, Russia and Israel in the Caucasus, the increase of ethnic and separatist movements in the northwest of the country, the limitation of the communication path between Iran and Europe, the removal of Iran from the European energy market and the reduction of the dependence of Armenia and Azerbaijan on Iran. had. The events of this region are of special importance due to their direct connection with the security and national interests of Iran. Especially, because of its tense nature, this crisis cannot be easily resolved and it takes time. For this reason, the South Caucasus is important for Iran as an external region close to Iran and the gateway of Iran to Europe in various ways, and it is the source of many threats and opportunities for us. In this regard, the current research tries to reread the events of the South Caucasus in 2020 through document and library data collection and with a descriptive-analytical method, and based on the available information, achieve appropriate strategies to defend the interests and national security of Iran.

The coasts of Makran have vital values in terms of security-defence, economic and politics, which are considered as one of the unknown geo-economic capacities of Iran in enhancing the defense-security power and territorial territory of the country. Considering the increasing role of this region in strengthening the defense deterrence of the country, the present study deals with the prospective analysis of the environmental dimensions of the above-mentioned beaches in strengthening the defense deterrence of Iran in the horizon of 2032. The type of research is applied-developmental with a mixed approach, and its statistical population is purposefully selected from among experts, military and civilian experts, and specialists in maritime and defense affairs at the level of the country and the armed forces with the characteristics of service history in strategic jobs, including (35) people. Is. Information was collected using the library method and conducting interviews in brainstorming sessions with the presence of experts. In order to measure the reliability and validity of the five components and dimensions identified, Kendall's coefficients of agreement, Chi-square and Cronbach's alpha were used using SPSS software, and in order to identify the most effective components using the Likert scale and based on the lowest dispersion coefficient. The most effective components of each dimension were identified and determined. By holding brainstorming sessions, a number of (48) top components were identified with the consensus of their opinion and by conducting a survey in the form of an expert questionnaire, the components in the five territorial and extraterritorial dimensions of the coasts, the economic and tourism attractions of the coasts, the demographic and human distribution of the coasts, the field presence of converging countries and Divergent and finally the interactive and communicative role of beaches were categorized.

A long time has passed since the forced separation of the neighbors from Iran's civilized territory; This civilizational center, with its position as a crossroads in the geography of West Asia, has always had a legacy of hidden and open threats from its neighbors. Among Iran's 15 neighbors, Afghanistan is the unic among others; Because in the past few decades, Iran has been at the forefront of threats of Afghanistan. With the Rushing out of America from Afghanistan, the balance of power once again changed in favor of the Taliban, and the security puzzle of Afghanistan took on new dimensions. Therefore, the authors were looking for an answer to the question: "What are the ideal strategies of the Islamic Republic of Iran to regulate the neighborhood relations with the Afghanistan?" The research inputs have been collected in the library method and analyzed in the framework of components of security, neighborhood policy and economic diplomacy; The methodology of the text has a descriptive-analytical. The findings of the research show that the Islamic Republic of Iran should adjust its relations with its eastern neighbor with a strategic approach in such a way that through active economic diplomacy and gaining the support of the international community, it can deal with the triple threats reproduced in Turn the Afghanistan field of the Taliban into economic and security opportunities for yourself. The result of the research showed that it is possible to solve the security mystery of Afghanistan with the effectiveness of Iran's economic diplomacy and the cooperation of effective regional and extra-regional actors.

Industrialization of a country leads to its growth and identifies it for investment and subsequently improvement of the country in social and economic fields. Construction of industrialized settlements and the industrialization of underdeveloped areas can play an important role in the socio-cultural, economic and environmental developments in the areas around industries and increase rural production, productivity, job opportunities, provides basic needs and links with other departments. In this study the research method is survey and descriptive- analytical. The method of data collection is through library, and field study through Likert scale. The three indicators of quality of life development, efficiency and service delivery impacted Qarchak Industrial Town on the surrounding areas. This study used SPSS software and t-test and ANOVA for analyzing data. Results of the study show that from experts and practitioners view the economic impact of Qarchak industrial town was significant in relation to the three indicators of quality of life development, efficiency and service provision. The results of analysis show that from experts and practitioner's point of view the impact of settlements on the surrounding areas is different with respect to these three indices. Also the output obtained by Tukey and Scheffer tests shows that from point of view of the two groups the economic impact of Qarchak Industrial Town is different with respect to three different indicators.