Iran's cultural diplomacy as a key strategy in strategic relations with East African countries

Abstract

Iran-Africa relations are rooted in history. Africa has always been one of the main priorities of Iran's foreign policy. Iran had supported the decolonization process throughout Africa during the Cold War. Until 1979, Iran's partnership with Africa was based on mutual economic, political, and strategic interests. After the Islamic Revolution, the nature of these relations underwent changes and transformations. Iran's diplomatic and economic relations with East African countries have expanded in recent years, especially in the political, commercial, and development fields. Relying on principles such as non-interference in internal affairs and convergence of developing countries, Iran is trying to strengthen its position in this region and create competitors against the influence of Western countries. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine the diplomatic and economic relations between Iran and East African countries. In order to achieve this goal, a descriptive-analytical method has been used. The findings of the study showed that from an economic perspective, Iran seeks to exploit the natural resources and development needs of East African countries, while these countries also need Iranian products and services in the fields of oil, petrochemicals, engineering, and technology. However, there are challenges such as sanctions and competition with other economic powers such as China and India. From a diplomatic perspective, some African countries seek to limit the Islamic Republic of Iran's cultural and religious influence in this region, hence they establish relations with Iran's rivals such as Israel and Saudi Arabia, and in return, Iran seeks to expand its influence in the region through the tools of cultural and religious diplomacy. In general, Iran's relations with this region have great potential for development, but they require intelligent management of opportunities and challenges to achieve desired results.