The Covid-19 Pandemic and Iranian Health Diplomacy

Iran’s foreign policy changed with the spread of Covid-19 in three main ways. First, the pandemic propelled its health diplomacy into prominence. Second, the pandemic altered the customary view of the country’s diplomacy. For more than four decades, Iran has regarded this diplomacy from the perspective of humanitarianism and ethics. But the pandemic imparted new object lessons. Third, the pandemic ushered Iran into a new era of cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO). Considering Iran’s medical and other scientific achievements over the past three decades, it seems likely that pursuing this diplomacy can improve Iran’s position in the WHO and enhance its prestige and influence within this and other international organizations, possibly easing the pressure of sanctions in the future.