Mythical Geopolitics: The Role of National Spirit in Regulating Iran's Foreign Relations with Neighbors

Proactive geopolitical engagement is a strategy for achieving success at the regional level and fostering favorable relations with neighboring countries. This research examines Iran's steps in this framework based on Jean Gottmann's theory of the 'spirit of the nation,' with components of 'iconography' and 'circulation'. The authors emphasize myths as one manifestation of the national spirit, specifically focusing on five mythological concepts related to Iranian geography. The research method is applied and developmental in terms of purpose, qualitative in data nature, and non-experimental (documentary and case study) in data collection. While symbolizing Iranian foreign policy, the myths under consideration place special emphasis on distinguishing between good and evil and can demonstrate the country's goodwill in regional interactions and Iran's neighborhood policy. The enduring flow conveyed through the circulation of mythological themes has no aim other than to transmit a message of friendship and good neighborliness. Therefore, the foreign policy apparatus of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in light of these themes, can engage in dignified diplomacy through constructive interaction and multifaceted convergence to achieve success in its neighborly policy through logical persuasion. The emphasis on myths for the symbolic transmission of a message of friendship and the continuous flow is the main goal of this research, which, if realized, will lead to peace and stability in the turbulent geopolitics of the Middle East.