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This article presents a critical view of the contemporary studies in the realm of ethnicity and nationality in Iran. Discussing the conceptual, methodological and theoretical pitfalls of such studies, the author claims that the lack of an approach based on the historical sociology and the failure to consider the historical specificities of the Iranian case have distorted the issue of ethnicity and national identity in Iran. Considering the relation between ethnicity and democracy, the author argues that the way ethnicity and ethnic factors have been instrumentally politicised by the regional and international actors, as well as the domestic political elites, has created serious obstacles for the rise and consolidation of democracy in Iran. Such an instrumental approach toward the question of ethnicity in itself stems from the fact that the reality of the ethnic and national issues in the Iranian society has been misunderstood.

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Since the beginning of the Arab Spring, the question of Iran's own political situation and its relationship to the Arab movements has become a controversial issue. This article examines the Iranian ruling elites' as well as oppositionist views of the Arab Spring, explaining why Iran has not followed its Arab counterparts in engaging a revolutionary and violent confrontation with the Islamic Republic regime. A main argument is that there is no agreement among the Iranians regarding the nature of the Arab Spring, thus situational and nationalistic considerations make Iranians hesitant to take a radical and violent move against the regime. Further, it is argued that in contrast to the expectations of the ruling elite, the empowerment of Arab Islamists brings about unexpected challenges, rather than advantages, for the Islamic Republic in Iran.

In addition to internal conditions, surrounding environment of any country provide opportunities as well as limitations within the process of policy making particularly in terms of foreign policy. It seems axiomatic that overlooking the surrounding regions within the process of policy making can lead to irrecoverable damages on the country's interests. In the present study it has been attempted to examine the features and abilities of surrounding regions of Iran as well as answering the question that which regions have advantage and priority to provide national goals and foreign policy of Iran has been presented at the conclusion of the hypothesis that Northern and Eastern regions surrounding the country (ECO zone) because of the presence cultural, language and religious similarities hold higher rate of capacity in order to provide foreign policy goals.