Journal of Political Knowledge

Revisiting Iran's Economic Diplomacy Strategy After the 12-Day War; Emphasis on BRICS Capabilities

Document Type : Science - Research (International Relation)

Author

Assistant Professor of International Relations, Department of Political Science, Faculty of Social science, Imam Khomeini International University, Qazvin

10.30497/pkn.2026.248865.3299

Abstract

Following the 12-day war between Iran and the Zionist regime, the need to review the power tools of the Islamic Republic of Iran in foreign policy became apparent. By posing the question, “How should Iran’s economic diplomacy be redefined within the framework of the post-war foreign policy strategy and considering the increasing role of the BRICS group?”, the article examines the main hypothesis that “economic diplomacy, by relying on soft power, formulating a national strategy for interaction with the BRICS, focusing on geoeconomic advantages, and establishing an inter-agency coordinating body, can play an effective role in strengthening Iran’s international position, reducing vulnerability to sanctions, and developing multilateral cooperation.” The research is conducted with a descriptive-analytical approach and relies on policy documents (including the Seventh Development Plan) and presents a three-dimensional model (structural, content, and implementation) for Iran’s desired economic diplomacy. The findings show that active membership in BRICS provides opportunities such as non-dollar trade, investment, and sanctions relief, but there are also challenges such as the lack of a coherent strategy and weak infrastructure. The conclusion emphasizes the need to redesign foreign policy with a focus on multilateralism, economic soft power, and engagement with emerging institutions such as BRICS, so that it can play an active role in the regional and global geoeconomic order while promoting domestic resilience.

Keywords

Main Subjects

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Journal of Political Knowledge
Volume 21, Issue 2 - Serial Number 42
ESSAY
September 2026
Pages 629-664
  • Receive Date: 02 September 2025
  • Revise Date: 15 December 2025
  • Accept Date: 17 January 2026