MONGABAY.COM
Mongabay.com seeks to raise interest in and appreciation of wild lands and wildlife, while examining the impact of emerging trends in climate, technology, economics, and finance on conservation and development (more)
WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
|
|
Iran
Index
Relations with Turkey and Pakistan since the Revolution
generally have been amicable and without any major issues. Before
the Revolution, Iran had joined both countries in a defensive
alliance (that included Britain with the United States as an
observer), the Central Treaty Organization, and in an economic
agreement, the Regional Cooperation for Development. Iran withdrew
from both agreements after the Revolution. Nevertheless, Iran's
economic ties with Pakistan and Turkey have expanded significantly.
Both countries have become important trade partners of Iran. Turkey
also has become the major transit route for goods traveling by
truck and rail between Europe and Iran. The increased volume of
trade with Turkey and Pakistan has been facilitated both by their
location and by the ideology of "neither East nor West," which
advocates reducing imports from the industrialized nations in favor
of importing more from Muslim and Third World countries.
Although Iran maintained diplomatic relations with Afghanistan
in 1987, Iran was critical of both the Marxist-Leninist government
in Kabul and the presence of Soviet troops in the country. Although
distrustful of the ideologies of most groups, Iran's leaders
generally supported the cause of the Afghan resistance. Iran
provided financial and limited military assistance to those Afghan
resistance forces whose leaders had pledged loyalty to the Iranian
vision of Islamic revolution. Iran also hosted about 2.3 million
refugees who had fled Afghanistan.
Data as of December 1987
|
|