Examination of the Reasons Behind the Expansion of Economic Relations between Iraq and Iran from 2010 to 2020

Abstract

The economic relations between Iraq and Iran have witnessed significant expansion and flourishing over the past decade, impacting various aspects significantly. Economic relations in today's world are among the most crucial components of countries' foreign policies for action and survival in the international system. The expansion of these relations, in addition to boosting the economic flourishing of these nations, strengthens political, cultural, and regional ties. Therefore, given the importance of this matter, this research, which gathered data through documentary and library methods and implemented an analytical-descriptive approach, aims to adequately answer the main research question: What are the reasons for the expansion of economic relations between Iraq and Iran in the recent decade? The findings indicate that the role of political, social, geographical, commercial, financial, cultural, and religious factors in expanding these relations has been remarkably significant. Influential factors in the expansion of economic relations between Iran and Iraq during the studied decade include the presence of Iraqi elites close to Iran, shared religious, cultural, and political commonalities, circumvention of sanctions, the existence of a safe shared border between the two countries, and common tastes and preferences in goods along with cost-effectiveness.