Iran and the Emerging New World Order: A Strategic Reassessment of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS

Iran and the Emerging New World Order: A Strategic Reassessment of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS
Article type: Research
Authors: Alireza Sheikh-Mohammadi, Sakineh Hashemi
Journal: Iranian Perspective on Foreign Affairs Quarterly (Negah-e Irani be Omour-e Khareji – IRFA)
Volume: 13
Issue: 35
Date: Dey 1400 (Winter 2021)

About the article
This article reassesses Iran’s strategy toward the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and BRICS in the context of a changing global order. Using a neoclassical realist framework, the authors analyze the simultaneous impact of international structural pressures and domestic factors on the direction of Iran’s foreign policy. The findings indicate that Iran’s move toward these two institutions stems from a combination of economic, diplomatic, and strategic motives.
Economically, membership and cooperation with the SCO and BRICS provide Iran with opportunities for trade expansion, access to new investments, and the use of non-Western financial mechanisms—especially important under sanctions. Diplomatically, these institutions create platforms for dialogue, synergy, and enhancing Iran’s regional and international standing.
Strategically, Tehran’s pivot to the East and closer ties with emerging poles of power affect the regional balance of power in West Asia and signal Iran’s active participation in shaping a multipolar global order. The article also addresses challenges in this process, including managing internal differences within the SCO and BRICS and aligning domestic objectives with a higher level of global engagement.
Overall, the study offers a clear picture of the benefits, constraints, and strategic outlook of Iran’s “Look East” policy.