Foreign Policy Planning in Iran in Twenty Year Outlook Plan

Foreign policy is influenced by structural elements, internal, regional andinternational political dynamics. the decisive role of human factors indecision making and orientation as well as the role and priorities in the pathtaken by nation-states in foreign relations also have an impact on foreignpolicy. the most considerable reflection of the elites' will in determining theorientation of foreign policy and international planning is embodied in theformulation of national outreach documents like national strategic plans,long-term strategic plans or perspective plans. as a regional power, theislamic republic of iran, after three decades of struggle for its independenceand national sovereignty, codified the 2025 national perspective documentin 2003 after lengthy debate and a consensual decision making process. itserves as a key outreach document in which the framework of domestic andforeign policies aimed at turning iran into a superior power in the southwestasian region takes form. while explaining the link between foreign policyplanning and economic development both from domestic and internationalperspectives, as explained in the document, this paper stresses theindivisibility of the two concepts. by emphasizing the structural and humanelements at the same time, an explanation of the two concepts and the linkbetween them are also considered. the theoretical framework of thisresearch is based on constructivist theory, it holds that becoming a regionalsuperpower is dependent on a developmentalist foreign policy. moreover, itargues that from a normative point of view, simultaneous consideration ofdomestic sources of development and positive action and engagement withthe international community is essential.