IDEOLOGY AND PRAGMATISM IN IRANIAN FOREIGN POLICY

This article examines the interaction between ideology and pragmatism in the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran. It analyzes the ideological foundations established after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, including anti-Westernism, the export of the Islamic Revolution, and support for oppressed Muslim communities. At the same time, the study explores the growing importance of pragmatic considerations such as national interests, regional security, economic needs, and geopolitical realities. The article also highlights the role of major political institutions, particularly the Supreme Leader, the President, and the Supreme National Security Council, in shaping Iranian foreign policy. The study concludes that Iran’s foreign policy is neither purely ideological nor entirely pragmatic, but rather a combination of both elements.