A Comparative Study of Iran's Foreign Policy Toward Russia During the Pahlavi II Era and the Islamic Republic

Abstract

Iran's foreign policy toward Russia throughout the twentieth and twenty-first centuries has undergone fundamental shifts rooted in political regime changes, structural transformations in the international system, and the ideological orientation of political elites. This study aims to comparatively analyze Iran’s foreign policy toward Russia during the Pahlavi II era and the Islamic Republic. Using the theoretical framework of realism, the research examines key components such as perceptions of national interests, the nature of economic and military relations, identity-based understandings of Russia, and the role of great powers in regional balance. The findings indicate that, despite some similarities—such as cautious engagement with Russia and using it as a counterweight to the West—there are essential differences in how Russia is perceived, the degree of mutual trust, the depth of cooperation, and how national interests are defined. During the Pahlavi II era, Iran's foreign policy was pro-Western and development-oriented, viewing Russia as a geopolitical threat. In contrast, under the Islamic Republic, Russia has been treated as a tactical partner in countering Western unilateralism. Nonetheless, in neither period did the relationship evolve into a strategic alliance, remaining instead governed by structural constraints and power calculations. The overall conclusion underscores that Iran’s foreign policy toward Russia in both periods has been shaped more by realist logic and national interests than by lasting ideological or value-based alliances.