Evaluation of the Diplomacy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Relation to Western Governments (The JCPOA Issue) Based on the Discursive Axes of Ayatollah Khamenei, Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran

Abstract

The JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action), as one of the most complex and challenging issues in the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, has consistently been a subject of dispute among different perspectives in the field of diplomacy. Using a descriptive-analytical approach, this article evaluates the performance of Iranian diplomacy in interaction with Western governments regarding the JCPOA. The main focus of this study is to explain and analyze these relations based on the discursive axes of the Supreme Leader (may his shadow be extended), who has consistently emphasized principles such as “distrust of the West,” “reliance on domestic capabilities,” “vigilance against infiltration,” and “preservation of national interests and sustainable security.” This article demonstrates that the experience of the JCPOA, particularly the unilateral withdrawal of the United States from the agreement in 2018 and the failure of European countries to fulfill their commitments, clearly confirmed the accuracy and validity of the strategic analyses of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution regarding the treaty-breaking and unreliable nature of Western governments. An examination of recent developments from 2023 to 2025 further supports the argument that any form of illusion and Western orientation in diplomacy not only fails to resolve economic problems but also places the country in a state of deeper passivity and dependence. The findings of this study indicate that successful diplomacy toward the West is a diplomacy based on “engagement from a position of strength” and “complete independence,” rather than a diplomacy founded on appeals and compromise. The discourse of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, by emphasizing political realism and avoiding misplaced optimism, outlines a roadmap in which negotiation is merely a tactical instrument and should not replace macro-level strategies aimed at strengthening domestic capabilities. Ultimately, adherence to the discursive axes of the leadership will prevent the repetition of the bitter experiences of the JCPOA and ensure the security and sustainable progress of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the international arena.