Weltraumpolitik im Nahen Osten

For the first time, the author analyses the space policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the context of the Middle East's geopolitical dynamics. Using the lens of neoclassical realism, and drawing on Iranian government documents and press reports, the author demonstrates how international constraints and national priorities influence Iran's space strategy, and the resulting security policy implications. The study situates Iran within the context of the Middle Eastern space race, demonstrating how the space programme serves as an instrument of national prestige and power projection. This study will be of interest to researchers, practitioners and decision-makers in the fields of international relations, security and space policy.