The Panel Discussion with Former and Current Editors-in-Chief of the Quarterly Journal of Foreign Policy

The Panel Discussion with Former and Current Editors-in-Chief of the Quarterly Journal of Foreign Policy Held on February 9th 2026 at th National Congress on Foreign Policy and the Conference on the History of Foreign Relations

On Monday, February 9th, 2026, a panel discussion with the current and former Editors-in-Chief of the quarterly journal of Foreign Policy was held as part of the National Congress on Foreign Policy and the Conference on the History of Foreign Relations. The event was organized by the Institute for Political and International Studies (IPIS) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and hosted by the journal of Foreign Policy. The session aimed to review the history, achievements, and challenges of the journal over four decades and to examine its role in shaping the foreign policy discourse of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The panel featured Dr. Mohammad-Reza Dehshiri, the current Editor-in-Chief of the journal since Spring 1401 (2022), along with former Editors-in-Chief Dr.Abbas Maleki, Dr.Seyed Mohammad Kazem Sajjadpour, Dr.Seyed Rasoul Mousavi, and Dr.Bahador Aminian. Each participant briefly reflected on their tenure and shared perspectives and proposals regarding the journal’s future outlook and new horizons. At the beginning of the session, Dr. Dehshiri, faculty member and Dean of the School of International Relations, expressed appreciation for the managing directors and editors of the journal over the past four decades and provided an overview of its history and development. He noted that until 1376 (1997), the journal covered at
least five main subject areas includinge political issues, strategic studies, international relations, international organizations and related topics. In addition, sections such as reports, institutional introductions and book reviews were also published. Economic issues and international law had likewise been addressed from the early years. He further explained that from Issue No. 4 of the second year (Winter 1376 / 1997), the formal title “Editor-in-Chief” was added to the journal’s structure and since Spring 1371 (1992), the position of Managing Editor was established. During that period, Dr.Abbas Maleki simultaneously served as both Responsible Director and Editor-in-Chief. In 1374 and 1375 (1995–1996), three special issues were published under guest editorship. Beginning in 1386 (2007), article abstracts were included at the beginning of each paper. From Winter 1392 (2013), the dates of submission and acceptance were recorded, and from Spring 1394 (2015), the designation “scientific-promotional” (political–economic–cultural–legal) was removed from the cover, bringing the structure of articles closer to its current format. He also referred to the change in the journal’s cover color beginning in Summer 1396 (2017), aligning it with the seasons.

Dr.Dehshiri presented performance statistics, stating that to date the journal has published 1,156 original research articles, 655 book reviews and introductions, 660 translated articles, and 167 reports and analytical
pieces. He also highlighted numerous special issues devoted to topics such as Iran’s foreign policy, women’s studies, Islam and foreign policy, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the Intifada, the contemporary
international system, the anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, and neighborhood policy. He announced that a special issue entitled “Artificial Intelligence and Foreign Policy” is scheduled for publication in Spring
1405 (2026).

Dr. Abbas Maleki, Professor at Sharif University of Technology and the first Responsible Director of the journal, explained that the original purpose of establishing the publication was to articulate and clarify
foreign policy for elites and public opinion. He cited as one of the journal’s significant achievements in the 1980s its survey of elites and the public regarding various dimensions of United Nations Security Council
Resolution 598. He added that the journal provided a platform for communication between the Institution for Political and International Studies and foreign scholars.

Dr.Seyed Mohammad Kazem Sajjadpour, faculty member of the School of International Relations, referred to the establishment of the IPIS in 1362 (1983) and described the Foreign Policy quarterly as valuable from three
perspectives. First, he emphasized the significance of its founding period, noting that it was the first specialized journal in the field of foreign policy in Iran and played an important role in fostering connections
between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the academic community. He identified the journal’s thematic focus as one of its strengths but also pointed out that certain administrative and regulatory constraints have at times limited scientific innovation. Dr.Sajjadpour characterized foreign policy as a three-pillar activity encompassing political, administrative, and academic dimensions, stressing that scholarly research should be
directed toward serving national interests.

In another part of the program, Dr.Seyed Rasoul Mousavi, Vice Dean for International Affairs at Islamic Azad University, reviewed his experiences during his tenure and noted the challenges of managing the journal in specific periods. He mentioned that Arabic and Spanish editions of the journal were published during his term and spoke of efforts to preserve and safeguard its scholarly legacy. He described that period as one of the most difficult phases, adding that despite the emergence of critical perspectives regarding earlier foreign policy achievements, the journal’s activities not only continued but also expanded. Dr.Mousavi cautioned
against excessive reliance on interdisciplinary approaches and emphasized the necessity of specialization in regional studies. He also underscored the importance of strengthening the connection between foreign policy and public opinion and returning to the journal’s original mission.

Finally, Dr. Bahador Aminian, faculty member of the School of International Relations, discussed the role of academic articles in shaping countries’ foreign policies. He argued that such articles, in addition to analyzing
the past, should adopt a forward-looking and future-oriented perspective. He identified the gap between practitioners and academia as a serious challenge in decision-making processes and emphasized the need for more active participation by the academic community. Dr.Aminian proposed that through targeted intellectual and financial investment, the journal could produce innovative and forward-looking works in the field of foreign policy.

At the conclusion of the panel, participants emphasized that beyond its academic standing, the Foreign Policy quarterly has played an important role in transferring knowledge of foreign policy to society and in building
a bridge between academia and the country’s diplomatic apparatus. Its influence in shaping foreign policy agendas and in incorporating scholarly research into high-level diplomatic decision-making processes was also highlighted.