Iran Informative Speech Outline Essay

Iran Informative Speech Outline Essay Purpose: to provide a brief description of Iran’s political, social, economic, and religious spheres and explain its role in the contemporary geopolitics. The main idea of this informative speech outline is that as a powerful player on the Middle Eastern geopolitical map, Iran has a significant effect on the global policies; yet, its inconsistency and economic challenges somewhat limit its influence as a regional leader. Introduction. A. Attracting attention. Many of you have probably heard about Iran in news or read about it in newspapers and books. This country is well-known for its anti-Western rhetoric, which has been the main cause of its continuous tension with the USA and Europe. However, how much do you actually know about this country? Does it play an important role in the regional and international politics? These issues are explored in detail in my informative speech. B. Iran is the largest and one of the most powerful countries in the Middle East. It is the Islamic theocracy governed by the president, government, and local councils. Its official religion is Shi’a Islam, which is also the basis of its social structure, legislation, and culture. This country is the second largest economy in Africa and the Middle East. Its rich oil reserves make it an influential player on the global energy market (Amuzegar, 2014). Although its economic and political relations with the West are strong, it tends to favor its Eastern partners the most, which often contributes to tensions in the Middle East as a strategic energy-producing region (Ehteshami, 2009). With the introduction of a nuclear deal, Iran is expected to strengthen its position in the region, but it is still not clear whether it will be able to shape Middle Eastern policies to a great extent (Wall Street Journal, 2016). Main Body A. Iran is a large Middle Eastern country whose territory equals the combined territories of Germany, Spain, France, Beligium, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Portugal (Stratfor, 2011). It borders with Armenia, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkey, and Iraq. The largest population groups include Persian, Azeri, and Kurd, and Islam is the official religion practiced by the majority of citizens. The overwhelming majority of Iranians are Sunni, while Shia Islam is practiced by only 10% of the population (Lutterloh et al., 2015). B. Iran’s mountainous geography is believed to contribute to its economic challenges because the majority of the country’s population live in distant areas with limited economic opportunities (Stratfor, 2011). International sanctions imposed by the Western countries as a response to the nuclear program contributed to the unfavourable economic situation in the country, which is still heavily dependent on oil production. Hostile relationships with the western countries, especially the USA, as well as inconsistent and contradictory foreign policies have contributed to the isolation from the international politics. However, with the introduction of a new nuclear deal, Iran can improve its geopolitical position. Iran possesses substantial natural resources and opportunities for economic growth, but this potential will not likely be used effectively unless Iran forms a comprehensive and collaborative regional and international policies. Conclusion. Iran is a large country possessing substantial natural resources and developmental potential. However, its economic development has been limited by the inconsistent policies, undisguised hostility towards western partners, and local challenges. The country can potentially become a powerful geopolitical leader, but only if it manages to strengthen its economy and introduce comprehensive foreign policy.