Political Islam and the Shaping of Iranian Foreign Relations

Iran\u27s foreign policy is shaped by three internal factors; leadership, economic policies, and human rights. These internal factors have seen profound changes as a result of two important events, the 1979 Islamic Revolution and the end of the Cold War. Despite economic policies and human rights being significant in shaping Iran\u27s foreign relations, this study attempts to show that the leadership in the post-Cold War era has been the most influential on foreign relations. The study measures the relationship the three internal factors with Iran\u27s foreign relations with the United States, Russia, and the European Union. The relationships are also measured against the time periods after the revolution and also after the Cold War. The thesis sheds light on the foreign relations of the Islamic Republic as a means of understanding which factor exacts the most significance