Drivers of Iran's Africa Engagement: An Analysis of High-Level Leadership Visits.

This article examines the determinants of Iran’s engagement with African countries by analyzing a comprehensive dataset of high-level Iranian diplomatic visits to Africa from 1989 to 2023. It finds that Iran’s interests in Africa are primarily driven by ideological imperatives—such as promoting Shi’a Islam and engaging Muslim-majority countries through the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)—economic motivations including access to larger markets, and strategic goals like securing uranium resources for its nuclear program. The study also highlights that Iran’s anti-American stance influences its diplomatic outreach, with fewer visits to African countries closely aligned with the United States. Additionally, the frequency and focus of visits vary significantly across Iranian presidential administrations, with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s tenure marked by a more assertive and ideologically driven engagement compared to more pragmatic approaches under other leaders.