Assessing the Regional Policies and Geopolitical Convergence of Iran-Russia in the Eurasian Economic Union

اThis paper discusses the regional policies of Russia and Iran and examines their role and relationship with the Eurasian Economic Union. The data required for the research was obtained from international organizations and the research has done by descriptive-analytical method from a critical view. The Islamic Republic of Iran, which had been excluded for four decades from regionalism processes and membership in regional organizations of East and West, recently has followed cooperation and convergence with the Eurasian Economic Union (and The Shanghai Cooperation Organization). Signing the Interim Free Trade Agreement between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Eurasian Economic Union in May ۲۰۱۸ was an essential step for Iran to enter the regional arrangements. The USA withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), extensive USA sanctions against Iran in Trap’s administration (maximum pressure), and Russia's geopolitical dilemma and western sanctions have led Russia and Iran to cooperate within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union as a geopolitical necessity. In this context, the present paper analyzes influential factors that have fostered bilateral relations between the two countries and the EEU-Iran. The results show that despite the economic name of the Agreement, its political and geopolitical goals are the main priority for the Russian Federation and the Islamic Republic of Iran. The absence of economic complementary, distrust, and political and geopolitical challenges are significant obstacles to this Agreement and relationship.

Keywords:

Eurasian Economic Union , Geopolitics , Regional Policies , Convergence , Iran , Russia