A Comparative Study of the Foreign Policies of the European Union, the United States, and the Islamic Republic of Iran toward the Palestinian Issue: An Analysis at the Declaratory and Operational Levels

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of International Relations, NT.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

2 Department of Law, ET.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

3 Department of International Relations, School of International Relations (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Tehran, Iran.

10.22080/jpir.2026.31272.1545

Abstract

The Palestinian question stands as one of the most enduring and controversial issues in contemporary international politics, having profoundly influenced Middle Eastern security equations and the behavioral patterns of major international actors over the past several decades.Relying on the theoretical framework of Neoclassical Realism and employing a comparative analysis method, this article seeks to answer the central question: How does the interaction between structural pressures of the international system and domestic variables shape different patterns of convergence or divergence between the declared and operational levels of foreign policy in the United States, the European Union, and the Islamic Republic of Iran regarding the Palestinian issue?The findings of the research indicate that in the case of the United States, and to some extent the European Union, there is a significant gap between their declared positions-which frequently emphasize political solutions, peace processes, and international legal frameworks-and their practical behavior in institutional and political arenas. This gap is largely driven by strategic considerations, security imperatives, and the positions these actors hold within the power structure of the international system.In contrast, the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran regarding the Palestinian issue exhibits a greater alignment between its declared and operational levels.

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Main Subjects

References

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Journal of Politics and International Relations
Volume 9, Issue 2 - Serial Number 18
August 2026
Pages 121-154

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