In the article, the author analyzed the theoretical aspects of studying the Central Asian vector in the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

“Heartland” theory, Islamic culture, cultural diplomacy

Guli Yuldasheva. Геополитические процессы в современной Центральной Азии: Иран и США. – Ташкент: “NisoPoligraf”, 2018. – C. 7.

Boris Z. Rumer. “The Gathering Storm in Central Asia”. // Orbis, Vol. 37, No. 1, 1993. – P. 89.

Golden Peter B. Central Asia in World History. // Oxford University Press, 2011. – P. 125.

Dorraj Manochehr and Entessar Nader. Iran’s Northern Exposure: Foreign Policy Challenges in Eurasia. // Center for International and Regional Studies Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar, 2013. – P. 10-11.

Kolaee Elaheh. Iran's Foreign Policy in Central Asia, Eastern Vector: Issues and new o– Portunities. // Political and international a– Proaches, 2020. – P. 170.

Mirfakhrai Sidhsan and Firouzmandi Bandpi Majid. Cultural Diplomacy of Iran in Central Asia and the Caucasus, opportunities and Challenges. // Central Eurasian Studies, Volume 10, Number 2, 2016. – P. 433-434.

Basiri Mohammadali and colleagues. Comparison of cultural diplomacy of Iran and Turkey in Central Asia. // Contemporary political essays, number 2, 2019. – P. 29-63.

Zarghani Seyed Hadi and colleagues. The Importance of the Role and Diplomacy of Culture in Expanding the Relations between Iran and Uzbekistan. // Contemporary Political Research, Number 2, 2019. – P. 56-31.

Anderson Lukas. Iran’s New Cultural Nationalism: Iranian cultural diplomacy in Tajikistan. // Central Asian Affairs, 6, 1, 2019. – P. 10.

Khodaverdi Hassan and Shahmohammadi Yosef. The Role of Culture in International Relations Theories. // International Journal of Political Science, Vol. 7, No. 3, 2017. – P. 9.

Atai Farhad and Sadat Waseizadeh Nasim. From cultural relations to the cultural theory of international relations: a review of the role of culture in international relations. // Political Research Quarterly International, number 15, 2012. – P. 19-46.

Xu Liang. The effectiveness of cultural diplomacy in state trust building between China and the UK. // Lancaster University, 2018. – 242 p.