An Analysis of the Rejection of Regionalism Relations between Iran and the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)

Although one of the components of Iran’s foreign policy conduct is making efforts to strengthen regional convergence, it is faced with many challenges due to the security constraints in the region. This research uses a descriptive-analytical method to answer the question of whether it is possible to realize the idea of regionalism in the Persian Gulf region. The hypothesis of the research indicates that as a result of such factors as the existence of sustained patterns of hostility, structural dependence of the Arab states of the Persian Gulf on trans-regional powers especially the United States, the undemocratic nature of the Arab state of the Persian Gulf, the way in which religion and politics interacts, the existence of ideological, strategic and geopolitical rivalries between the regional countries, there is no prospect of achieving a pattern of sustainable cooperation and integration. The continuation of this process will deepen the existing divergence in the region and will lead to an escalation of the security bottleneck and, as a result, to further militarization of the Persian Gulf region.