IRAN SEEKING FOR ALTERNATIVE FOREIGN POLICIES AGAINST THE PREVAILING GLOBAL POLITICAL-ECONOMIC SYSTEM

Abstract

Iran is a country abundant with energy resources in the Middle East and has been attempting to implement a relatively independent economic and foreign policy struggling with hegemony of the West, mainly the United States. Even though Iran is a member of International Monetary Fund, and also an observer in World Trade Organization, Iran with its Islamic-oriented theocratic structure has been seeking alternative integration strategies (i.e. Shanghai Cooperation Organization). In this context, Iran has been trying to improve its economic and political relations with Venezuela, China and Russia that the countries oppose a unipolar world system led by the United States acquiring partnerships with these countries.