Cultural Diplomacy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Afghanistan: Challenges and Opportunities

Following the victory of the Islamic Revolution, Iran has always relied on the soft dimensions of power to pursue its national interests across the international borders. It is for this very reason that cultural diplomacy has come to have a special place in the foreign relations of the Islamic Republic of Iran with other countries. Furthermore, since bilateral interactions with neighbors are among the priorities of the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran - keeping in view the many historical and cultural commonalities of Iran and Afghanistan - the application of cultural diplomacy in the relations between the two countries is highly important. Taking into consideration the fact that Iran enjoys great civilizational and cultural potentials, the present research paper seeks to answer the question that: “What are the opportunities available to the Islamic Republic of Iran has for expanding and increasing its cultural activities in Afghanistan, and what are the challenges that the two countries face within the framework of cultural diplomacy?” It seems that by adopting a soft power approach, the Islamic Republic of Iran has been able to take some important measures both to ensure its national interests and to achieve its strategic goals. The purpose of this study is to investigate the significance of Iran’s soft power by emphasizing the strengths and weaknesses of its cultural diplomacy; using a descriptive-analytical methodology.