Analysis of iran's gulf policy: Hatemi and Ahmedinejad terms

This thesis examines the factors that are effective in Iranian foreign policy during the Mohammad Khatami and Mahmud Ahmadinejad terms by analysing the Iran's Gulf policy. No matter which institution or group predominates over the struggle that exists in post-revolutionary Iran's domestic politics, they have not acted independently of systemic effects. Based on this main assumption, this thesis aims to determine the domestic and systemic factors effecting the Iranian foreign policy. On the on hand, it discusses power relations of Iranian political elites, different political factions and institutions. On the other hand, it focuses on how the developments resulting from systemic changes are interpreted by Iranian foreign policy makers. Based on the findings of these discussions, the Iran's Gulf policy will be analysed. The theoretical framework presented by Foreign Policy Analysis is used in the thesis, in order to demonstrate domestic and the systemic effects on the foreign policy making process. In this context, the first part of the thesis examines the approach of Foreign Policy Analysis to the central debates in discipline of International Relations. In the second chapter, the factors that influence the foreign policy making process during the Hatemi and Ahmedinejad terms will be revealed. Based on these prominent factors, in the final chapter, we will analyse the foreign policy of Iran towards the Gulf region.