Abstract
This article assesses the reasons why the Islamic Republic of Iran has not been as powerful and influential a regional actor in its relations with Central Asia and the Gulf states as its geostrategic position, population and relative wealth would suggest. The main argument is that the major constraint on Iran acting as a bridge between these two regions is its revolutionary legacy. In seeking to overcome this legacy, the article demonstrates how Iranian policy evolved in the 1990s towards a more pragmatic and moderate stance in its relations with the countries in its immediate neighborhood. However, Iran has failed to achieve a critical breakthrough in its projection of power and influence because of its continuing strained relations with the United States. Unless this changes, the prospects for Iran escaping from its relative regional marginalization remain poor.
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