Analyzing Geostatregic Components Affecting the Significance of Makran Coasts in Iran’s National Security and Regional Balance of Power

The Makran coasts, as Iran’s only oceanic gateway and a strategic node at the junction of the Persian Gulf and the northern Indian Ocean, hold a pivotal role in national security and regional power balance. Despite their exceptional potential, the region remains underdeveloped and inadequately utilized. This study, titled “Analyzing the Geostrategic Components Affecting the Importance of Makran Coasts in Iran’s National Security and Regional Power Balance,” employs a qualitative and exploratory design based on 15 in-depth semi-structured interviews with experts in geopolitics, national security, and foreign policy. Data were processed through three-stage coding (open, axial, and selective) using MAXQDA. Findings reveal that Makran constitutes a “multi-level strategic space” structured around three conceptual cores: (1) geostrategic capacities—centered on oceanic positioning and geo-economic corridors, (2) developmental and institutional limitations—particularly managerial weakness, and (3) implications for national security and power equilibrium. The results indicate that Makran’s development facilitates Iran’s transition from a coastal power to an ocean-oriented actor, mitigates strategic vulnerability, and provides new instruments for regional balancing. Ultimately, the study concludes that activating Makran’s full potential requires establishing an integrated governance system and implementing a development-oriented security model, wherein regional development functions as a prerequisite—not merely a complement—for achieving strategic and security objectives.