First National Congress of Iranian Foreign Policy, February 8, 2026
Center for Political and International Studies of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran
At this congress, Dr. Sasan Karimi, a professor at the University of Tehran and deputy director of global affairs at the Payab Institute, analyzed the current developments in the international system in the panel “Global Macro Trends and Iranian Foreign Policy,” focusing on the concept of “post-polar order.”
Referring to his joint articles and works with Dr. Mohammad Javad Zarif, he emphasized that the world has neither returned to bipolarity nor is it in a stable multi-polarity, but is facing a fluid and multi-layered order in which the elements of power, geography of influence, actors, technology, media, and even the definition of national interests have undergone changes.
While warning against cognitive errors in foreign policy analysis, Dr. Karimi stated that the main issue of Iran's foreign policy is not limited to the decision-making level and that "Iran's foreign policy is faced with the issue of unused capacities."
He continued with the 1414 Horizon plan, emphasizing the necessity of strengthening the professional body of foreign policy and listed three axes for its restoration: redefining the role of the diplomat from "position implementer" to "option architect" through scenario writing and designing alternative paths; moving from information accumulation to problem-oriented learning in areas such as energy, corridors, technology, and the financial system; and developing thematic coalition-building alongside bilateral relations.
In response to a question about the focus of Iran's foreign policy crisis on the United States and Israel, Sasan Karimi considered reducing the issues to two files a kind of cognitive error and pointed to a series of structural challenges, including the destruction of relations with Europe, distance from the financial system and global value chains, normalization of attacks on national sovereignty, weakening of the media narrative, and lack of balance in foreign policy. In conclusion, he emphasized that without a strong Foreign Ministry and a professional and capable body, even the best strategic decisions will not be achieved.
Link to Paiab website
