Abstract:
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 position and status with regards to the development of its relations with Kazakhstan.
Machine summary:
"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).
Iran and Russia's geopolitical interests in the region in many ways include the legal regime of the Caspian Sea, energy transfer and economic competitiveness are normally at odds with each other; because essentially the expansion of Iran’s political, -economic and cultural influence in the region, naturally, reduces the range of opportunities for Russia to exploit its geographical position (Pishgahi Fard& Joneidi, 2010:63).
Conclusion In the first days after the collapse of the Soviet Union, There were at least two main reasons for Iran's leaders and some of the newly independent countries hope and to expect prosperity and further expansion of relations between Iran and the countries in the various fields of economy, culture, and politics: first cultural, religious, and historical connections between Iran and the new states of Central Asia and the Caucasus and Second, rapidly growing economic demands in the region."