The Impact of the Geopolitical Position of the Strait of Hormuz on Iran’s Political Economy Challenges in the Persian Gulf
Keywords:
Geopolitics, Strait of Hormuz, Regional Security, Iran’s Political Economy, Free Trade ZonesAbstract
The geopolitics of the Strait of Hormuz, due to its role and position at the heart of global economic exchanges and energy security, constitutes one of the most critical and sensitive centers in the global economy and trade. Its sphere of influence spans from regional dimensions to global capacities. The Islamic Republic of Iran, as one of the major producers of oil and gas in the Persian Gulf region, is heavily reliant on the Strait of Hormuz for securing its economic and political interests. The establishment of free trade zones is among the viable opportunities to overcome the political economy challenges that Iran faces in the Persian Gulf. The present study aims to investigate the relationship between the strategic position of the Strait of Hormuz and the political economy challenges of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The central question of this article is: What impact does the geopolitical position of the Strait of Hormuz have on the current and future challenges of Iran’s political economy in the Persian Gulf? The core hypothesis is that the geopolitical position of the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf—due to its security and economic characteristics, the role of great powers in ensuring its security, and the fundamental need for its stability—exerts a profound influence on Iran’s political economy. The conceptual framework of this article is grounded in the theory of regional security. The theoretical framework of the study is based on the regional security theory, and the research method is qualitative, utilizing documentary and library-based sources.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Farhad Sarkhosh pour (Author); Ghaffar Zarei (Corresponding author); Amin Revanbod (Author)
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