What Happened
- As US-Israeli strikes targeted Iran on 28 February 2026, international attention turned to how Iran's neighbours — nearly all of whom share complex, often adversarial relationships with Tehran — would respond
- Iran borders seven countries by land: Iraq, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan — totalling approximately 5,894 km of land borders
- Each bilateral relationship carries its own distinct fault lines: ethnic minorities, proxy conflicts, sectarian tensions, water disputes, and competing regional ambitions
- The strikes brought into sharp focus how Iran's neighbourhood acts both as a strategic buffer and a source of persistent vulnerability
Static Topic Bridges
Iran's Land Borders — Geographic Overview
Iran is a large country (1,648,195 sq km, 17th largest in the world) located at the crossroads of the Middle East, Central Asia, and South Asia. It borders the Caspian Sea to the north, the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman to the south. Its land borders — totalling approximately 5,894 km — connect it to seven distinct states with varied political systems, ethnicities, and strategic alignments.
- Iraq (west): ~1,599 km — longest border; historically contested; site of the devastating Iran-Iraq War (1980-88)
- Turkey (northwest): ~534 km — mountainous; Kurdic-majority borderlands; site of competing proxy interests
- Azerbaijan (north): ~432 km; Iran also borders the Nakhchivan exclave of Azerbaijan (~179 km) separated by Armenian territory
- Armenia (northwest): ~35 km — Iran's only Christian-majority neighbour; relatively cooperative relations
- Turkmenistan (northeast): ~992 km — shares Caspian Sea concerns; Sunni-majority, Soviet successor state
- Afghanistan (east): ~921 km — Iran hosts over 3 million Afghan refugees; Taliban rule creates ideological friction
- Pakistan (east): ~909 km — Baloch separatism is a shared security concern; 2024 cross-border missile exchange
Connection to this news: As US-Israeli strikes unfolded, each of Iran's neighbours faced the question of whether to allow use of their airspace, permit US overflight, or activate border defences — with every answer carrying strategic costs given how entangled each is with Tehran.
Iran-Iraq Relations — From Enmity to Strategic Depth
The Iran-Iraq relationship is the most consequential bilateral dynamic in the Middle East. The two countries fought a devastating war from 1980 to 1988, initiated by Saddam Hussein's invasion of Iran. The war resulted in approximately 500,000 to 1 million casualties on both sides. Following the 2003 US invasion and Saddam's fall, the political landscape reversed: a Shia-dominated Iraq emerged, deeply intertwined with Iranian influence through shared religious identity (both Shia-majority), political networks, and economic ties.
- Iran-Iraq War (1980-88): 8 years; estimated 500,000 to 1 million dead; use of chemical weapons by Iraq
- Post-2003: Iran rebuilt political influence in Iraq through Shia political parties and Iranian-backed Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF/Hashd al-Shaabi)
- Iraq-Iran bilateral trade exceeds $10 billion annually; Iraq is dependent on Iranian gas for electricity generation
- The Algiers Accord (1975) defined the Shatt al-Arab waterway boundary (Iraq-Iran): it was repudiated by Saddam before the 1980 invasion
- Iraq hosts multiple US military bases (which Iran targeted in "True Promise 4") while simultaneously maintaining deep ties with Iran — making it a central arena of great-power competition
Connection to this news: Iran's strikes hit targets in Iraq (Erbil), while Iraq-based Shia militias aligned with Iran conducted simultaneous operations — illustrating how Iraq remains the primary theatre of Iran's "Axis of Resistance" strategy even as Baghdad seeks to maintain formal neutrality.
Iran-Turkey Rivalry — Competing Regional Powers
Turkey and Iran are the two largest non-Arab powers in the Middle East and have historically competed for regional influence. While sharing economic interdependence (Turkey is a major importer of Iranian natural gas), they support opposing sides in proxy conflicts in Syria (Turkey supports Syrian opposition factions; Iran supports Assad/Alawite government) and have competed for influence in the Caucasus (Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict).
- Border length: 534 km (mountainous, Kurdish-populated)
- Both are members of the ECO (Economic Cooperation Organisation), which also includes Central Asian states and Pakistan
- Syria proxy conflict: Turkey (NATO member) backs Sunni Arab factions; Iran backs Assad government and Hezbollah — these groups have fought each other
- Kurdish issue: Iran and Turkey share concerns about Kurdish separatism (PKK in Turkey; PJAK in Iran), enabling tactical security cooperation even amid strategic rivalry
- Both Iran and Turkey are excluded from the Arab League but seek leadership of Muslim-majority states
Connection to this news: The 2026 strikes tested Turkey's position — as a NATO member hosting the Incirlik Air Base (used for US operations), Turkey faces pressure to either support the US-led operation or oppose it to maintain influence with Iran and preserve its energy imports.
Iran-Pakistan Border — Balochistan and Cross-Border Strikes
Iran shares its eastern border with Pakistan through the Balochistan province, which straddles both countries. The Baloch population is divided by the international border, and both Iran (Sistan-Baluchestan province) and Pakistan (Balochistan province) face armed separatist insurgencies. In January 2024, Iran launched missile strikes on alleged Jaish al-Adl militant positions inside Pakistani territory — a remarkable breach of bilateral norms that led to a temporary downgrade of diplomatic relations.
- Balochistan province (Pakistan): Borders Iran and Afghanistan; strategically vital as the terminal of CPEC (China-Pakistan Economic Corridor); accounts for 44% of Pakistan's land area but ~5% of its population
- Sistan-Baluchestan (Iran): Iran's most underdeveloped province; frequent insurgent attacks attributed to Jaish al-Adl
- January 2024: Iran struck targets in Pakistan; Pakistan retaliated with strikes inside Iran (Sistan-Baluchestan) days later
- Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline (IP Pipeline / "Peace Pipeline"): Planned to carry Iranian gas to Pakistan; indefinitely delayed due to US sanctions on Iran — Pakistan faces energy shortages partially because it cannot implement this agreement
- Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) Pipeline: Originally proposed in 1990s; India withdrew over sanctions concerns
Connection to this news: Pakistan's response to the 2026 Iran conflict is complicated by its own border tensions with Iran, its dependence on potential Iranian energy imports, and pressure from the US and Gulf states (major sources of remittances) to not support Iran's position.
Key Facts & Data
- Iran's total land border: 5,894 km across 7 countries
- Longest border: Iraq (~1,599 km); shortest: Armenia (~35 km)
- Iran-Iraq War: 1980-88; 8 years; estimated 500,000-1 million casualties; Iraqi use of chemical weapons
- Post-2003 Iraq: Shia-majority governance; Iranian-backed PMF/Hashd al-Shaabi integrated into state security
- Iran-Pakistan cross-border strikes: January 2024 (Iran struck Pakistan; Pakistan retaliated)
- CPEC terminal: Gwadar port, Balochistan — strategically adjacent to Iran-Pakistan border
- Iran-Pakistan IPI Pipeline: Proposed 1990s; stalled due to US sanctions on Iran
- ECO (Economic Cooperation Organisation): 10 members including Iran, Turkey, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Central Asian states — founded 1985 as successor to RCD