Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

• Roohollah Kohanhoosh Nejad ¹
• Seyyed Mahdi Pakzat ²

¹ Assistant Professor of West Asian and African Studies, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

² Faculty of Governance, University of Tehran

Abstract

This paper reexamines the economic security dynamics of the Persian Gulf by applying a neoliberal institutionalist framework to the evolving relationship between Iran and the United States, with particular attention to recent geopolitical shocks, including the 12-day war between Iran and Israel and the US's direct involvement in that conflict. The study explores how shifting patterns of sanctions, trade disruptions, and maritime security risks affect regional economies, particularly those of Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states. Using process tracing, the analysis identifies causal pathways linking US policy changes to Iran’s economic resilience and the adaptive strategies of Persian Gulf actors. Special emphasis is placed on the mediating and stabilizing role of Qatar, whose neutral diplomacy has grown in importance amid heightened tensions. Findings suggest that economic interdependence, institutional cooperation, and pragmatic mediation—especially by Persian Gulf states like Qatar and Oman—offer pathways to mitigate conflict and preserve economic stability in a region increasingly shaped by sanctions, oil market volatility, and asymmetric warfare. The paper concludes with actionable policy recommendations for Iran to improve regional integration, crisis response, and economic diversification under ongoing US pressure.

Keywords

• Persian Gulf
• US-Iran relations
• sanctions
• economic security
• GCC
• trade routes
• Neoliberal Institutionalism

Main Subjects

• Iran
• Political Economy
• Security
• The Persian Gulf, West Asia and the Middle East
• United States