Islamic Republic of Iran is a country of particular geostrategic significance, owing to its location in the Middle East and central Eurasia.
Iran borders Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan to the north. Kazakhstan and Russia are the direct neighbours to the north. Iran borders Afghanistan and Pakistan to the east, Iraq to the west, Turkey to the northwest and the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman to the south. Bahrain Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia are maritime neighbours of Iran to the south.
Apart from oil and natural gas, the country’s other natural resources include coal, chromium, copper, iron ore, lead, manganese, zinc and sulphur.
Iran is a founding member of the GECF, IEF, and OPEC; and a member of ECO, IMF, NAM, OIC, and the UN.