Foundations and Consequences of Central and South Asia Geo-Economic Connection: Iran's Position and Interests

Document Type : Research

Authors

1 PhD Candidate of International Relations, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran.

2 Corresponding Author, Associate Professor of International Relations, Faculty of Humanities, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran

3 Assistant Professor of International Relations, Faculty of Humanities, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran.

10.22126/ipes.2026.11063.1691

Abstract

The geo-economic connectivity of Central and South Asia was resumed as an American idea from 2011 and developed within the framework of the pragmatism of the countries of the two regions. This plan connects the two regions of Central and South Asia geo-economically through the triple channels of trade, transit, and energy. Such a connection with changing the flow of the economy in the heart of Asia affected the interests of many actors not only at the economic and geo-economic level, but also at the geo-political level. The way of this influence is also dependent on the realization process, and the level of realization of this connection in the aforementioned three axes, and the evaluation of Iran's position and interests is the aim of this article. From this point of view, this article seeks to answer the question, what will be the results of the geo-economic connection of Central Asia on the position and interests of the Islamic Republic of Iran? To answer this question, in this article, an attempt is made to first examine the historical process and the process of restoring the geo-economic connection of Central and South Asia, and then, relying on the model of geo-economic inter-regionalism, its level and prospects are evaluated. The findings of the research show that the development of this project has improved Iran's security in a positive way, and from a pragmatic point of view, there are some strategic benefits in Iran's geo-economic position. In this process, with a consolidated approach and relying on comparative strategy, an effort is made to evaluate the causal relationship between this process and the interests and position of Iran, and provide an answer to the main question.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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International Political Economy Studies
Volume 9, Issue 2
September 2026
Pages 89-108

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History

  • Receive Date: 07 September 2024
  • Revise Date: 21 January 2026
  • Accept Date: 14 February 2026

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