چکیده:
Kazakhstan needs the short transit route leading to open waters to supply its demands and export oil and gas to international markets. Iran's territorial status in the heart of Eurasia, has offered new capabilities for commerce, industry, and development to this country. But some factors such as the geopolitics of the region, having the second largest resources of energy in the world, and willingness to allow the presence of trans-regional powers with the aim to reduce dependence on Russia and attract foreign investment, has resulted in the presence of these powers in this country and has created serious obstacles for Iran’s more effective participation. The main question of this paper is how has Iran benefited from the opportunity to develop relations with Kazakhstan? The authors analyze the most important factors regarding Iran's geopolitical positionand status with regards to the development of its relations with Kazakhstan.
خلاصه ماشینی:
But some factors such as the geopolitics of the region, having the second largest resources of energy in the world, and willingness to allow the presence of trans-regional powers with the aim to reduce dependence on Russia and attract foreign investment, has resulted in the presence of these powers in this country and has created serious obstacles for Iran’s more effective participation.
Keywords: Central Asia, Energy, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, Caspian Sea Professor, Regional Studies, University of Tehran (ekolaee@ut.
Iran is the only country which has special facilities needed for the transferring of energy from Central Asia to the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea. Iran has 137/6 billion barrels of oil reserves, which is equivalent to 10% of the world’s oil resources, and is among the top four countries in total petroleum output, and its1,045 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves make it second in that category after Russia (EIA, 2010).
During the Civil War in Tajikistan, acceptance of Iran as a major player, especially in terms of trying to brokered by in Tajikistan, and also Iran's role in facilitating the collapse of the Taliban caused the creation of a favorable business relationship between Iran and Kazakhstan (Mesbahi, 2004:124) After the emergence of new states around the Caspian Sea, countries with different definitions of their national interests have created a complex situation in this region.
For the landlocked Central Asia region, Iran is a favorable transport route that can deliver Kazakhstan's oil and gas to seas in the most economical way.