Pakistan, June 19 -- Given the mounting tensions between the United States and Iran, questions pertaining to Tehran's strengths and vulnerabilities, nowadays, form the nucleus of many a political discourse. This piece is aimed at providing the readers with a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Strengths: One of the key strengths of Iran is its geography. It is ideally located between the Middle East and Central Asia. Access to major water bodies of the world - the Persian Gulf and the Caspian Sea - enhances its geo-political and geo-strategic importance. In terms of size, it is the second largest in the Middle East and the 18th largest country in the world, with a population o...