Strategic Dimensions Influencing the Determination of the Theater of War of the Islamic Republic of Iran

Determining the theater of war constitutes one of the fundamental aspects of military strategy and is influenced by a wide range of strategic, operational, and geographical factors. Recent developments in contemporary warfare, together with the growing need for a more comprehensive understanding of these determinants in strategic planning, have further highlighted the importance of this issue. This study aims to identify the strategic factors influencing the determination of the theater of war of the Islamic Republic of Iran through the identification and prioritization of the principal strategic dimensions, components, and sub-components that contribute to strengthening national deterrence and military preparedness. To achieve this objective, content analysis and case study methods were employed, drawing upon historical and contemporary evidence alongside the perspectives of military experts and strategic planners to identify and analyze the relevant factors. The research adopted a mixed-methods (qualitative–quantitative) approach within a descriptive-analytical framework. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with a purposively selected sample of forty participants holding master's or doctoral degrees and occupying strategic positions or senior military ranks. Data analysis, based on mean score ranking, was used to prioritize the identified dimensions, components, and sub-components. The findings indicate that the most influential strategic dimensions are doctrine and strategy, military capabilities, and geography. The highest-priority components include geostrategic location, preemptive strike capability, and counter-threat operations, while the most significant sub-components comprise border security, sustainable defense funding, and the development of indigenous defense technologies