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UAE: Iran's 'Look East' policy in line with Global South's new world order, says expert
As the UAE deepens its ties with key partners across Asia, Africa, and Latin America, an expert highlighted that the Global South is no longer a passive space in international affairs, instead it is an active shaper of a new world order.
Conversations around South-South cooperation took centre stage in global diplomacy in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, at the Global South Economic Forum (GSEF) 2025.
Dr Aniseh Bassiri Tabrizi, Senior Analyst at Control Risks UAE, emphasized how countries like Iran are repositioning themselves in a multipolar world.
Iran's vision: Building a post-Western order
'So, Iran sees really the relationship with the Global South as one of the beginnings of the foreign policy. It frames it as a key in building multipolar world and one that is free of Western dominance,' said Tabrizi.
For Iran, the pivot to the Global South is not just symbolic... it's strategic. It's about creating and participating in a new global architecture that does not revolve around the West, particularly the United States.
This framework includes deepened relations with blocs such as BRICS, the Non-Aligned Movement, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), the same forums where Gulf states, including the UAE, are steadily increasing engagement.
'It sees the bloc as a strategic one that can shape an alternative order, one again, not led by the West, and that counter balances the West,' added Dr Tabrizi whose research is concerned with security in the Middle East, with a particular focus on Iran's foreign and domestic politics.
Beyond diplomacy: The economic imperative
She underlined while the diplomatic symbolism of aligning with the Global South is important, Iran's motivations are also rooted in economic survival and opportunity.
'This is, from an Iranian perspective, very much in line with the goals and vision of the BRICS non-aligned movement and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). Iran has been pushing for becoming members of these groups over the past couple of years,' Dr Tabrizi added.
The expert explained that in bypassing US-led sanctions, Iran increasingly relies on barter agreements and trade in local currencies — practices also explored by several emerging economies as part of de-dollarisation efforts.
The UAE, with its growing role as a connector between the Global North and South, has similarly pursued local currency trade arrangements, with India and China.
'I think the other important component, besides the diplomatic one, is also the economic one. So, Iran sees this Global South relationship as important to get out of the 'isolationism'; that it sees being posed by the US, but also as a way to increase its economic benefits through bypassing sanctions, through engaging, through barter agreements and with local currency trade,' she added.
Shift since 2021: A conservative push
She emphasized that Iran's assertiveness in cultivating ties with the Global South has accelerated under the leadership of President Ebrahim Raisi. His administration has pursued what many consider a 'Look East' policy to counterbalance years of economic hardship and diplomatic stalemate.
'I think his vision has been particularly strong since 2021… the coming about of the Conservative government run by President Raisi, who really pushed for this strategic partnership with countries who are members of the Global South.'
During this period, Iran not only pursued SCO and BRICS memberships but also made bold diplomatic moves — including restoring ties with Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi-Iran rapprochement: A case study in South-South diplomacy
Tabrizi pointed out that the normalization of Iran-Saudi Arabia relations in March 2023, brokered by China, marked a geopolitical turning point in the Middle East. It underlined the growing influence of Global South countries in resolving long-standing disputes without Western mediation.
'I think what is interesting is that the pinnacle, if you wish, of Iran's success in the Global South relation was from an Iranian perspective, 'the rapprochement with Saudi Arabia in March 2023'. Iran described that as the demonstration that an alternative order was about to come and emerge, because obviously that was mediated by China. There was no Western intervention or inclusion in the process, and that was actually going to lead to broader and stronger South to South cooperation.'
This development holds particular relevance for Gulf states, including the UAE, which welcomed the de-escalation of regional tensions. The UAE has also emphasized multilateral diplomacy and regional economic integration, echoing broader South-South objectives.
A bipartisan consensus in Tehran
Interestingly, Iran's outreach to the Global South transcends political factions.
'Both the Conservatives and the Moderate, reformist, both see these as key to the foreign policy. We have seen that with the current President Pezeshkian and the current government…they basically reinforced all the trends that we have seen at the Red Sea, both in terms of the strategic partnership with the members of the Global South, but also in terms of trying to see these as an economic way to outweigh lower sanctions imposed against Iran.'
Limits of the strategy: the economic reality check
However, the enthusiasm for Global South cooperation has not fully compensated for Iran's economic isolation. As Tabrizi cautions, bypassing sanctions through smaller-scale deals does not resolve deeper structural problems.
'However, I think there has been also a realization, especially over the past couple of years, that economically speaking, this vision has a limit for Iran… when it comes to the economics. It's true that it can bypass some sanction. It's true that it can do this barter agreement, this local currency trade but this is small scale. It's not enough to address the large economic issues that Iran has in terms of needing foreign direct investment.'
No pivot to the West — just a more effective South-South approach
Despite these limitations, Iran is not shifting back to the West. Instead, it's doubling down on its Global South approach by seeking selective engagement with the US, not to re-align, but to gain more space for manoeuvring within the Global South framework.
'I think there has been a realization that this vision is to stay, needs to be implemented, but that without such a relief, there is only as much as Iran can do in its improvement of its relationship with the Global South, particularly when it comes to the economic components. So, this is the rationale for Iran going, for instance, into the negotiation with the US… the recent ones. It's not to improve economic relationship with the West, necessarily…it is to improve relationship with the Global South. There is no reason to think that this is going to change anytime soon.'
