The Impact of the Eurasian Economic Union on the Geoeconomics Situation of the Islamic Republic of Iran

After the Cold War, Tendency toward Regionalism has become more evident in different parts of the World. Central Asia is a Geostrategic area that has always been at the center of Russia’s attention and the Superpowers of China and America. China’s attention to this Region in its plan (One Belt One Road) for a modern-day connection to Europe is an example of the important position of Central Asia. In this region, the Eurasian Economic Union and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization have good potential for raising the economic level of the countries of the region, which Iran’s foreign policy can exploit in line with its national interests. The Eurasian Economic Union is one of the unions that have been established as regional Groupings in Central Asia. Iran in line with its unique Geopolitical and Geostrategic and as a neighboring country to the union can benefit from the role of this influential union. Indeed, this can happen for any country, depending on its Geopolitical weight. The present paper attempts to answer the following question: Do the Eurasian Economic Union and Iran’s membership in it influence Iran’s Geo-economic position? The findings of the paper show that Iran's proximity to union member states and Iran's future membership in the Eurasian Economic Union will impact most Iran's geo-economic position. Adopting a qualitative and descriptive-analytical approach, the paper examines the impact of the Eurasian Economic Union on the geo-economic situation of Iran. Geo-economic and economic convergence theories and approaches have been used to examine the politics and impact of regionalism on Iran's geo-economic position.
After the Cold War, Tendency toward Regionalism has become more evident in different parts of the World. Central Asia is a Geostrategic area that has always been at the center of Russia’s attention and the Superpowers of China and America. China’s attention to this Region in its plan (One Belt One Road) for a modern-day connection to Europe is an example of the important position of Central Asia. In this region, the Eurasian Economic Union and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization have good potential for raising the economic level of the countries of the region, which Iran’s foreign policy can exploit in line with its national interests. The Eurasian Economic Union is one of the unions that have been established as regional Groupings in Central Asia. Iran in line with its unique Geopolitical and Geostrategic and as a neighboring can benefit from the role of this influential union. Indeed, this can happen for any country, depending on the Geopolitical weight of the countries.
One of the requirements of developing countries is to pay attention to the geopolitical and Geo-economic position of their land. According to various theories such as Heartland, Energy Oval,and Center, the territory of Iran has a special geopolitical and Geo-economic position. Participating in and accelerating the process of membership of regional organizations, such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Eurasian Economic Union, can play a special role in enhancing Iran’s Geo-economic position and strengthening its national interests. Geo-economic components (Power, Geography, Economics) form the basis of economic convergence. In regional economic convergence theories, business promotion plays an important role. Economic unions were formed to promote trade in the aftermath of World War II. Economic regionalism implies the willingness of a group of countries in a specific geographical area for economic cooperation, the first signs of which are the conclusion of preferential agreements and the growth of trade and investment between them, and finally the establishment of economic union. Concerning the successful levels of cooperation in a given region, the theorists of the field differed in the extent and level of integration between countries based on the variables affecting it.
 
1. The Main Question
Do the Eurasian Economic Union and Iran’s membership in it influence the Geo-economics Status of Iran?
 
2. Hypothesis
The research hypothesis is that the Eurasian Economic Union and its membership will impact Iran’s Geo-economic position.
 
3. Methodology
Adopting a qualitative and descriptive-analytical approach, the paper examines the impact of the Eurasian Economic Union on the geo-economic situation of Iran by making use of library resources and Internet sites.
 
4. Conclusion
This article posed the question as to how and to which extent the Eurasian Economic Union and its membership would affect Iran’s Geo-economic situation. To answer this question, each of the member states of the Union and their potentials was briefly reviewed; Remember, in modern regionalism, the power of states and their hierarchical levels of power affect the relations of nations.Against the backdrop of discussions on Iran and Central Asia, issues such as Iran's cultural (Geo-cultural) and historical relations with the Caspian states can be discussed. However, the present study emphasizes the centrality of energy and transit— within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union— and the degree of importance attached to it in economic discourse governing international relations.
It has been argued that one of the key roles of the regional organization is that regional agreements encourage governments to support each other in the face of nationalism and ethnic conflicts in particular regions and states, and they do provide additional impetus for regional solutions through shared cultures and experiences. Furthermore, it helps create favorable economic conditions for the member countries. The aforementioned role, however, is perhaps more relevant to the situation in Central Asia and Iran than any other role; Therefore, Iran’s membership in this regional organization can reduce the number of challenges. Given the countries’ view on economic integration for development and, consequently, the growth of regionalism, we have witnessed the emergence of various regional organizations and regional groupings. In this regard, Iran’s geopolitical, geostrategic and Geo-economic position requires that the authorities have a proper understanding of these situations. Nevertheless, given the constraints on foreign policy imposed by transnational powers against Iran, the Iranian government faces challenges in the international and regional arena; though on the other hand it also can reap the opportunities created by it. Russia’s (as the alliance's major power) relations with Western Europe and the US can be used as opportunities.
In the Iranian case, we see Iran participating in regional organizations such as ECO, OPEC as the founding member, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and more recently the Eurasian Economic Union as an observer member. It was therefore assessed that the strategy of the Eurasian Economic Community countries, their attitudes towards their neighbors and the economic developments that have taken place and will continue to occur in the future, could impact Iran’s Geo-economic situation, given Iran’s membership in the union. The economic development of the countries of the Union will strongly depend on the energy transportation, export and import of goods; so Iran’s land can serve as a transit route for energy and goods. Focusing more on Iran’s economic and trade deals with these countries, and vice versa, taking into consideration the role of the New Silk Road which could be a bridge between Iran and Central Eurasia, strengthening the trilateral mechanisms as well as mediating the central Eurasian conflicts, practical measures in the field of extraterritorial cultivation with Kyrgyzstan and Russia, etc. will certainly be effective in boosting Iran’s economic power. Iran’s capabilities will be strengthened within the framework of membership in the Eurasian Economic Union, and the geo-economic position of Iran will be improved.