Developing an Optimal Model of Iran’s Countermeasures against the Threats of Economic Plans of the Major Powers in Central Asia

In this article, the authors have sought to develop and present an optimal model of Iran’s countermeasures against the threats of the economic plans of the major powers in Central Asia. This qualitative research uses mixed-methods (i.e., thematic matrix and thematic network) to collect and analyze data. Since the thematic matrix was used as a data analysis method, an indirect observation study (analysis of textual material) was performed, data were collected through a purposeful sampling of existing textual materials, and finally, a comparison and an analysis were made to specify commonalities and differences. In addition, since the thematic network, research data were collected using a semi-structured interview with 10 experts, who were selected using theoretical sampling; the collected data were analyzed using the thematic network analysis method. Eventually, a conceptual network model was constructed and interpreted. Findings of qualitative research while identifying opportunities and threats revealed that the optimal model of Iran’s countermeasures against the economic plans of the major powers in Central Asia with three global themes, including the adoption of economic diplomacy by Iran, the adoption of soft diplomacy by Iran, and efforts to exit sanctions and remove sanction barriers, had reached theoretical saturation. The most appropriate strategy for Iran to confront the threats of the economic plans of the major powers in Central Asia is to adopt convergent diplomacy in the form of various kinds of diplomacy and the removal of the sanction barriers.