Regional political dynamics and challenges have led states to adopt differing perspectives on various issues due to both internal limitations and capabilities, as well as international and regional factors. This situation has prompted the adoption of innovative approaches in both domestic and foreign policies, which are the result of structural interactions and agency-driven decisions. To better understand the differences in viewpoints and political approaches across various factions—particularly during elections and recent political developments—it is crucial to review and critically analyze the discourses of the seventh and eighth governments, as well as the ninth and tenth governments. The primary issue addressed by this research is the sense of crisis and the strategies for overcoming both domestic and international political crises during the seventh to tenth presidential terms, and the continuation of this cyclical crisis in the political trajectories that followed. This issue has challenged the notions of national interests and optimal state policies, leading to contentious decision-making that significantly influenced the country’s political landscape.
The main aim of this research is to analyze, explain, and compare two distinct political approaches taken during the seventh and eighth administrations as well as the ninth and tenth. By applying Thomas Spragens’ crisis theory and decision-making theory, the study’s findings reveal that the actions and policies of Iranian statesmen between 1997 and 2015 were shaped by their differing backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives on crises. While the leaders’ discourses were critically oriented towards the existing policies, they presented various strategies and tactics to address the challenges at hand. One approach emphasized alignment with the international order and internal political development, whereas another proposed a revisionist strategy that focused on addressing the needs of marginalized groups and social justice as a solution to the prevailing crisis.