Introduction
Although the concept of sustainable security was explicitly introduced for the first time in the General Policies of the Fifth Development Plan of the Islamic Republic of Iran, its underlying principles had long been reflected in the country's constitutional, legal, and policy frameworks. This study examines the conceptualization of sustainable security across Iran’s major policy documents, including the Constitution, the Iran Vision 1404 Document, the First through Fifth Development Plans, and the General Policies of the Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Development Plans.
Drawing on the theoretical and empirical literature, the study identifies the components, indicators, and security reference objects associated with sustainable security and classifies them into four dimensions: political-social, economic, security-defense, and environmental. In this context, security reference objects encompass both human beings and other human-centered entities that become subjects of security concerns, as well as the conditions and environments in which they exist. The study seeks to answer the following question: How do the macro-level documents of the Islamic Republic of Iran conceptualize sustainable security and the measures required to sustain it?
Methodology
This research adopts an exploratory qualitative approach. The content, themes, security reference objects, components, and indicators of sustainable security embedded in accessible macro-level documents were examined through textual and content analysis. Following their identification, the extracted concepts and categories were systematically classified according to their structural and substantive similarities. The resulting framework organizes sustainable security into four principal dimensions: political-social, economic, security-defense, and environmental. The concepts of security and sustainability were further interpreted through thematic analysis.
Findings and Discussion
The findings indicate that although the term sustainable security appears explicitly only in the General Policies of the Fifth Development Plan, its core themes are evident throughout other major policy documents. The analysis reveals that the political-social dimension receives the greatest emphasis, followed by the economic and security-defense dimensions, while environmental considerations receive comparatively limited attention.
A similar pattern is observed regarding the situational aspects of sustainable security. Although the documents contain references to sustaining conditions and managing their interrelationships, this dimension remains insufficiently developed. Furthermore, the dominant perspective underlying security-sustaining measures appears to assume relatively stable conditions rather than dynamic, evolving, and potentially turbulent environments. Given the increasing complexity and uncertainty of contemporary security challenges, this assumption may limit the effectiveness of long-term security policies.
Conclusion
The sustainability of security has become an increasingly strategic concern in light of wars, social unrest, rapid technological transformations, and the emergence of new forms of political and social change. While Iran’s macro-level policy documents acknowledge the importance of sustainable security, their treatment of the concept lacks sufficient conceptual clarity and comprehensiveness. A more systematic understanding of sustainable security can help address existing shortcomings in policymaking and implementation. Moreover, the continuous adaptation of policies and programs to changing security conditions is essential for maintaining and enhancing sustainable security.