Abstract
Prolonged Western economic sanctions imposed on the Islamic Republic of Iran throughout its decades-long nuclear dispute have profoundly reconstructed Iran’s international image, subjecting it to a process of securitization. Yet the rise of a new reformist government in Tehran has rekindled debates among various political factions regarding the potential for the resumption of Iran’s diplomatic engagement with Western powers and the possibility of a sustainable peaceful resolution to the ongoing nuclear dispute. This paper examines the motivations behind the continued securitization of Iran and the maintenance of its disintegrated position within the global economy following the formation of the new administration in Tehran. It argues that the political costs associated with the de-securitization of Iran’s image have increased over time. Saudi Arabia and Israel, Iran’s primary regional rivals, view the existing securitized construct of Iran as conducive to their strategic interests. Likewise, the United States views the maintenance of this securitized image as an instrument to reshape the Middle East security architecture in alignment with its geostrategic priorities.