In the sixth session of the University of Tehran’s World Studies Faculty Book Club in spring 2025, we will study and discuss the book Iran’s Strategic Loneliness by Dr. Mohiaddin Mesbahi.
The theory of strategic loneliness, proposed by prominent Iranian strategist Mohiaddin Mesbahi, describes Iran's geopolitical condition characterized by a historical and strategic isolation due to the absence of natural alliances with major powers and the lack of defensible natural borders. The theory highlights that Iran, whether by choice or necessity, has remained detached from meaningful alliances with superpowers, a situation exacerbated after the Islamic Revolution, the hostage crisis, and the Iran-Iraq War. Mesbahi argues that in such circumstances, Iran must rely on its internal capabilities, as its borders serve as defensive frontlines, a reality rooted in the country’s history of invasions and vulnerable geography.
