Saeideh Shariati Najafabadi is an Associate Professor in the Department of International Relations and Diplomacy at Cihan University-Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq. She holds a Ph.D. in Political Science, along with a B.A. in Political Science and an M.A. in International Relations. She is also a Rotary International Peace Fellow with specialized training in conflict resolution and peacebuilding. Her research interests focus on peace and conflict studies, and the political dynamics of the Middle East.

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This paper examines Iran’s pursuit of cybersecurity and strategic autonomy within the context of prolonged geopolitical confrontation with the United States. As a key Global South actor under heavy sanctions and recurrent cyber operations, Iran presents a notable case of digital resistance and innovation in the face of international exclusion. The study illustrates how Iran has responded to external pressures—particularly from the U.S.—by developing indigenous cybersecurity capabilities, promoting local technology, and constructing alternative digital infrastructures insulated from Western influence. It also analyzes Iran’s dual strategy of resisting Western digital hegemony while selectively aligning with non-Western powers, including China and Russia, to strengthen technological sovereignty and bypass digital isolation.

Employing a multidisciplinary approach that integrates international relations theory, cybersecurity studies, and political economy, the paper explores key developments such as the growth of the National Information Network, the evolution of Iran’s cyber doctrine, and the role of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in shaping the country’s cyber posture. It further evaluates the implications of U.S. cyber operations and economic sanctions on Iran’s digital landscape and assesses how these pressures have stimulated domestic innovation in cybersecurity, telecommunications, and digital governance.

By focusing on Iran’s experience, the paper contributes to broader debates on the future of cyberspace governance, the global digital divide, and the emerging cyber order, challenging Western-centric assumptions by highlighting the pursuit of strategic autonomy through unilateral and regional mechanisms. Ultimately, this study situates Iran’s cyber trajectory within the shifting contours of global digital geopolitics, offering critical insights into how states on the periphery of the liberal international order navigate coercive digital environments while asserting sovereignty and reimagining the global cyber landscape.