Economic Diplomacy of the Islamic Republic of Iran under Sanctions:Outsourcing in Resistive Economics Era

A significant part of the country's economic diplomacy entails targeting export objectives and providing the necessary diplomatic platforms to support exporting internal products, which play an important role in enhancing the production and economic development of the society. Given the importance of exports in economic flourishing and the significance of economic diplomacy in the development of exports during the sanction situation, this research is intended to addresses the question regarding the countries of the world that provide comparatively the highest advantage in accepting Iranian products. This is a vital issue because policymakers and executives of the country's economic affairs have to prepare the necessary background to direct and encourage producers and exporters by identifying and prioritizing the target countries for Iranian exports, and play their role in the production processes. This research employs the modified RCA index and the data issued by the World Bank as well as the Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran to pinpoint and prioritize the proper countries. Contrary to popular perception, the results indicated that Iran's economic diplomacy requires a serious turnaround in its targeting of western and eastern developed countries to less developed and developing countries, especially neighbors of Iran.  Afghanistan (index=161), Iraq (index:65), Syria (index:18), Turkmenistan (index: 17), and Georgia (index: 14), are the most prior countries for Iran's export. Moreover, Armenia, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Pakistan and the UAE are the next five countries, respectively. However, allocating more than 67 percent of the country's exports to five destinations, while 41 percent is given to two countries, can be a threatening case. It could be eliminated by diversifying export targets which can greatly enhance the country's export security. Economic diplomacy is the most important factor in achieving these goals.