Balancing East & West ...
Page 1
Iran’s regional influence, when channeled toward its national interest, is another valuable asset. Its role in Middle Eastern security architecture offers the chance to help shape stable regional arrangements that reinforce, rather than endanger, its own security. Dialogue with neighbors and the resolution of longstanding tensions are not signs of weakness, but of diplomatic maturity.
To act as a responsible regional power, Iran must pursue stability as a strategic objective, not a tactical concession.
Globally, the Second Cold War is increasingly intertwined with new domains — cyber rivalry, artificial intelligence, and data security. Effective participation in these arenas means preserving technological independence and digital sovereignty. Iran must invest in science and innovation alongside its defense capabilities, for in the new world order, knowledge itself is power.
Ultimately, the meaning of “national interest” in this emerging era has become far more complex. It no longer refers solely to protecting borders or military capacity, but also to economic resilience, political stability, cultural soft power, and multilateral diplomacy. Iran can play a role that goes beyond a regional actor — provided its foreign policy rests on three principles: independence in decision-making, balance in partnerships, and flexibility in diplomacy.
As Barry Buzan reminds us, the world is moving toward a deeply pluralist order — one in which no single power can dominate. In such a system, those nations that treat change not as a threat but as an opportunity to rebuild their national strength will emerge as the true winners. By placing its national interests as the compass of its foreign policy, Iran will not only withstand the turbulence of the Second Cold War, but can also emerge as one of the pillars of stability in the new global order.