The Makran coast in southeastern Iran, long regarded as a remote periphery, has emerged as a focal point for the strategic utilization of coastal capacities amid recent geopolitical transformations and the advent of new transit and energy corridors. Accordingly, this article examines the strategic exploitation of these capacities to strengthen the strategic depth of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The study draws on library-based data and employs a descriptive–analytical approach to data analysis. The findings indicate that the strategic utilization of the Makran coastal region’s capacities across three dimensions—geopolitical, geoeconomic, and military- security- can contribute to strengthening Iran’s strategic depth. From a geopolitical perspective, enhancing Makran’s role in maritime and regional relations, strengthening Iran’s access to open waters, and expanding regional interactions can enhance the country’s strategic maneuverability and influence. From a geoeconomic perspective, the development of port, logistics, and corridor infrastructure, the expansion of the maritime economy and associated value chains, and the diversification of energy infrastructure can consolidate Iran’s position within regional and international economic and transit networks while fostering economic interdependencies and enhancing the country’s strategic resilience. From a military and security perspective, the establishment of a more balanced strategic posture in response to threats and the enhanced maritime presence can serve as a form of “strategic coverage,” significantly expanding Iran’s capacity for maneuver and resilience in the face of external threats. Overall, Iran’s strategic depth in the context of Makran is shaped by the synergy among geopolitical, geoeconomic, and military- security capacities. Through the strategic leveraging of these capacities, Makran can contribute to expanding Iran’s geopolitical space of action, enhancing its geoeconomic power and resilience, and extending part of the country’s defense and deterrence capacity into more distant maritime environments. In this way, the strategic utilization of Makran’s coastal capacities has the potential to contribute significantly to the development and strengthening of Iran’s strategic depth.
Amiri, A. (2026). Strategic Exploitation of the Makran Coastal Region’s Capacities for Reinforcing the Strategic Depth of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Journal of Geography and Regional Development, 24(1), 311–352. https://doi.org/10.22067/jgrd.2026.98708.1651
MLA
Amiri, A. "Strategic Exploitation of the Makran Coastal Region’s Capacities for Reinforcing the Strategic Depth of the Islamic Republic of Iran", Journal of Geography and Regional Development, 24, 1, 2026, 311–352. doi: 10.22067/jgrd.2026.98708.1651
HARVARD
Amiri, A. (2026). 'Strategic Exploitation of the Makran Coastal Region’s Capacities for Reinforcing the Strategic Depth of the Islamic Republic of Iran', Journal of Geography and Regional Development, 24(1), pp. 311–352. doi: 10.22067/jgrd.2026.98708.1651
CHICAGO
Amiri, A., "Strategic Exploitation of the Makran Coastal Region’s Capacities for Reinforcing the Strategic Depth of the Islamic Republic of Iran." Journal of Geography and Regional Development, 24 1 (2026): 311–352, doi: 10.22067/jgrd.2026.98708.1651
VANCOUVER
Amiri A. Strategic Exploitation of the Makran Coastal Region’s Capacities for Reinforcing the Strategic Depth of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Journal of Geography and Regional Development. 2026;24(1):311–352 (In Persian). doi: 10.22067/jgrd.2026.98708.1651
