Iran's Role in Energy Security at Regional and Global Levels

Although tremendous progresses have been made in terms of meeting the needs in all walks of life, the question of "ensuring energy security" remains a top priority for all states across the globe, including the super powers particularly the United States, which continues its endeavors to form a hegemonic world order after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The emergence of growing economic powers in the world has triggered further the necessity of having such a strategic vision concerning energy security. At the same time, the Russian Federation, as the main part of the disintegrated Soviet Union and while enjoying huge reserves of oil and gas, keeps trying to play a major role in energy market at regional and global levels. Under such circumstances, the Iranian oil and gas reserves is being considered as a remarkable source for securing energy in the world. The active presence of the United States in the Persian Gulf region, particularly in Iraq and Afghanistan, has escalated the importance of Iran in ensuring energy supply in this strategic region. In this essay, the author considers the impacts of the political and security developments in post- bipolar system era on the role of Iran in energy supply and energy security.