Iran’s Digital Diplomacy in the Face of Global Digital Divergence
Mehran Sharifi, in an interview with the website of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, stated: “Recent developments indicate that the global digital order is on a path of divergence; such that what was known as the global internet up to a decade ago is now dividing into several technological and political domains.” Referring to a concept termed the “Digital Iron Curtain” by the Atlantic Council think tank, the expert said: “The world’s move away from a free internet is not merely due to the security policies of Russia or China, but is the result of geopolitical competition among major powers over data, cyber control, and technological influence; meaning, in the world of data, we are also witnessing an East-West bloc formation.”
The researcher emphasized: “In such an environment, Iran must shape its digital diplomacy considering foreign policy considerations, technological independence, and multilateral cooperation within the Global South.” He added: “In a world where the U.S. and its allies seek dominance over the data chain, cloud infrastructure, and artificial intelligence, one cannot remain solely reliant on a consumer-centric approach; just as one should not unilaterally rely on the data world of Russia and China either. In this context, while maintaining independence alongside other countries, Iran must have an active share in redefining the rules of the global digital order.”

Security and Technological Challenges in the Era of “Digital Separation”
Sharifi further clarified: “The new digital divide is, in fact, a technological schism that simultaneously encompasses security, economic, and political dimensions.” He explained: “Technology is no longer just a tool for development; it has become a tool for pressure, influence, and even deterrence; and this is precisely where technology diplomacy intertwines with national security.”
He noted: “In research reports from the Hoover Institution and other Western entities, China’s ‘Digital Silk Road’ is referred to as an effort to form a technology bloc independent of the West.” Sharifi said: “By investing in intercontinental cables, 5G networks, and indigenous positioning systems, China is creating a chain of non-Western digital connectivity. Iran can achieve multilateral technological links through a similar approach, tailored to its own capacities, via regional cooperation within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization or BRICS.”
The expert believes: “Sanction pressures and restrictions on access to Western technologies, although challenging, also present an opportunity to review the country’s digital policies; because sanctions have caused Iran to shift its focus from dependence on exclusive Western platforms towards the indigenization of cloud services, cybersecurity infrastructures, and independent networks.” The international technology analyst considers “Iran’s major challenge in the era of digital separation not to be merely technology, but smart regulation and shaping international cyber relations.” He emphasized: “In the new space, any country that can harmonize its data interaction rules and digital sovereignty with non-Western partners will be in a better position to maintain technological independence.”

Shaping a South-Centric Technology Diplomacy
Sharifi stated: “The effective strategy in facing the global digital divide is neither isolation nor submission, but active participation in Global South structures.” He added: “Many countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America face limitations similar to Iran’s. These countries desire the establishment of a fairer system in the digital space where data and infrastructure do not become tools of domination.”
According to the expert, “Iran should pursue its technology diplomacy along three axes: First, developing independent communication infrastructures and indigenous data centers to reduce dependence on Western routes; second, participating in joint projects on cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and cryptocurrencies within the framework of BRICS Plus and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization; and third, creating links between universities, startups, and formal diplomacy to strengthen and transfer technology and train specialized human resources.”
Sharifi stated: “In the new world, digital power is national power; a country that fails to demonstrate its own identity, sovereignty, and ability to create technology in cyberspace will become a second-rate actor in the field of diplomacy as well.” Sharifi concluded with a warning: “If countries act without a plan in the face of the bipolarization trend in cyberspace, the world will face a version of a digital Cold War; a battle this time not over land, but over data, artificial intelligence, and the human mind.”