A B S T R A C T Transformations such as globalization, the contiguity of geographical spaces, as well as developments in the field of military technologies have transformed the issue of defense as the main factor for the survival of countries. Because the transformation from hard to soft war and then the smart war in recent decades has changed the approaches to defense. These transformations have led to the development of discussions about defense purposes. Meanwhile, Middle East countries have a prominent position and importance in terms of defense due to their special conditions. This article has tried to investigate the basic dimensions affecting the defense of foreign countries with descriptive and analytical methods, using library and field findings and Smart-PLS software. The results of the current research show that the effective components in the current research include 130 items that are placed in the form of 15 dimensions. The importance of these dimensions in defense of the Middle East countries is, respectively, geopolitical dimension with a 0.43 score, military dimension with a 0.41 score, economic dimension with a 0.41 score, political dimension with a 0.39 score, hydrology dimension with a 0.34 score, security dimension with a 0.32 score, social dimension with a 0.29 score, demographic dimension with a 0.28 score, cultural dimension with a 0.26 score, scientific-health dimension with a 0.25 score, geomorphological dimension with a 0.25 score, mathematical dimension with a 0.2 score, climatic dimension with a 0.2 score, biological dimension with a 0.2 score and soil dimension with a 0.18 score. Extended Abstract Introduction Security and defense are among the most vital issues for the preservation and survival of countries. In fact, defense and military affairs are necessary for countries' independence and political, cultural and economic development. Among them, geography and political geography are prominent fields that directly affect defense issues. Actions taken by a country in dimensions (political, military, economic, etc.) in order to maintain security and territorial integrity, guarantee independence and protection of its people against any enemy attack, will organize the geographical (spatial) environment, wise and appropriate distribution of critical places and sensitive centers and infrastructures are identified by taking into account the threats and the correct use of environmental capacities in political, economic, social, cultural, etc. dimensions, and as a result, it can lead to stability and stability in the country's geographical space. The design of defense planning model according to the economic, cultural, political and environmental features in the new era when countries are facing external and internal threats as a sub-branch of territorial planning has received the attention and importance of officials and governance systems in order to be able to reduce these threats with accurate and systematic planning in the geographical space, defense planning is not separate from the flow of national and regional planning. It is important to pay attention to it based on the type and amount of external and internal threats to governance. Due to the expansion of the security circle, the government is not only responsible for creating military security. However, it must also exercise part of its authority in the direction of territorial management. On the other hand, there has been a transformation in the form of threats and wars based on changes and the movement from hard to soft war and finally, smart war is the basis for reviewing and recognizing the components that can be used in defense of countries, including the Middle East countries, have a prominent position and importance. Despite the internal differences between countries, the Middle East has commonalities and connections that can directly affect the overall defense of this geographical space.   Methodology In terms of type and purpose, the current research is fundamentally applied. Also, it is descriptive and analytical in terms of nature. This research, in addition to the correct and realistic depiction of the defense situation of the Middle East countries, it is tried to provide a suitable model for the defense of the countries. The sources used in the current research are library and field sources (questionnaires). According to the subject of the current research, the statistical population of this research is a collection of people, experts and elites who have sufficient knowledge, experience and expertise regarding the research topic, which is the design of the defense model, according to the nature of the Delphi pattern model, at least the statistical population based on the sources should be between twenty and fifty people to reach statistical saturation. The number of selected samples included 51 people who were identified in the form of a non-random sampling pattern and introduced as a statistical sample in the framework of the Delphi model. Due to the qualitative nature of this research, it has been tried to use the Delphi model in the framework of the targeted non-random model. Therefore, based on these cases, the current research has selected the maximum statistical population of 51 elites, experts, and opinionated people in this field. In this research, to evaluate the research hypotheses in the form of the hardness equations model, the partial least squares method and the SMART-PLS software, which is a variance-based path modeling technique and provides the possibility of checking the theory and metrics simultaneously, have been exerted.   Results and discussion In this research, approaches such as political, military, cultural, etc., in the field of land use have been discussed. In the meantime, the defense of countries as an emerging approach is significant. According to the developments in geographical spaces, such as the evolution of military-defense technologies, the connection of geographical spaces to each other and most importantly, the movement from hard and soft war to smart war has witnessed a transformation and wide attention in a way that countries are suited to these developments are trying to prepare the geographical space of their country in terms of defense. Therefore, the defense planning of the Middle East countries as a geographical region has great importance from a geopolitical and strategic point of view, which indicates that the countries of this region face threats and complex defense-security issues in different ways.   Conclusion The results of the present research show that the defense planning in developing countries should be considered according to their characteristics, considering all 15 dimensions, which include 130 components. In the design of the defense planning of these countries, attention should be paid to the weight and importance of the shaping dimensions. In general, it can be said that the defense planning of the Middle East countries is proportional to the geographical features of these countries and on the other hand, considering the developments in the field of threats and moving from hard to smart war, 15 dimensions should be considered for the defense of these countries.   Funding There is no funding support.   Authors’ Contribution Authors contributed equally to the conceptualization and writing of the article. All of the authors approved thecontent of the manuscript and agreed on all aspects of the work declaration of competing interest none.   Conflict of Interest Authors declared no conflict of interest.   Acknowledgments  We are grateful to all the scientific consultants of this paper.

This article aims to study the most influential countries in the Middle East region, especially, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Syria, Jordan, and Egypt. The terrorist attacks of September 11 created opportunities and threats in the region which attracted the attention of experts and analysts. This article also addresses the methods and tactics used by these countries to adapt to rapid and often deep changes in region. The structure of the Middle East is fluid, therefore being influential in the region depends on adopting methods and tactics compatible with this changing structure.Therefore, the author first studies the orientations of the aforementioned governments in the dynamic history of the Middle East and then, he tries to take a look at the different stages of these developments covering the events that occurred after 9/11 and the U.S. occupation of Iraq. Finally, he examines the views and policies of the countries which have disputes with each other over the new regional structure and system. Therefore, it is necessary to point out that the studied period only lasts until the time of the U.S. occupation of Iraq.

Extended Abstract     IntroductionBasically, after the Cold War, the two major trends of diffusion of power and transition of power dominated international politics. From 1991 onwards, with the rise of international actors and their role in international developments, power shifted from the state to non-state actors, and with ascendance of economic, military, and political countries such as Brazil, China, India, Russia, and South Africa, the possibility of transition in the international hegemonic order was created. One of the most important consequences of these two trends is the regionalization of order and the increase of regional interactions in global politics. With the regionalization of order, the international system is known with the emergence of regional hegemons, the escalation of regional conflicts, regional arms races, and tensions, especially in fragile regions. This study seeks to examine Russia's strategy as an emerging revitalized power in the Middle East. Therefore the main question of the research is about the strategic principles and foundations of Russia's foreign policy in the Middle East? In response to this question and considering the principle of explaining strategies based on interests in the framework of power and assumption derived strategies from preferences and achieving foreign policy goals with specific tools, this hypothesis expressed that Russia regard experience of power changes in the international system, try have to retrieval position and role in the international system, accordingly, due to the hegemonic of international construction, intervention in neighboring regions, especially in the former Soviet-dominated regions, in the hierarchy of goals of definition and role-playing and intervention in regions due to regionalization of the international system order is a foreign policy priority, and since the Middle East is one of the important regions in the international system, becomes an important area in Russian foreign policy, and Russia's strategies in this area are based on the circumstances and source of threat, and include a set of strategies; Local multilateralism strategies in the face of regional systemic crises, competitive strategies in the face of emerging rivals in the region, tension and reaction severe strategies in the face of threats hegemon and its allies, and coalition strategies with regional actors. MethodologyThe research tries to explain Russia's foreign policy strategies in the Middle East with a realistic approach and focuses on the power cycle theory and case study method. Results and DiscussionBasically, in international politics, power determines the strategies of the actors in the international system. This principle implies the degrees of power, determine, interests, strategies, and behaviors of the actors in the international system. Thus the causal link between the distribution of power and the nature of the international system is purely systemic. Therefore, the strategies of the actors are adjusted according to their power and position in the hierarchy of power in the international system. With the rise and fall of actors in the international system, the gap between role and power emerges to reason the time-consuming process of setting roles and missions. The gap between role and power is created when an actor imagines that action is not proportionate with relative power in the international system. Usually, during power changes, a large gap formed between power and the role of the actors.According to these discussions, Russia's foreign policy strategies after the collapse of the Soviet Union can be classified into separate periods. These periods differed from each other as far as the priority to geographical areas, the goals and the choice of tactics, the scope of the resources that were available to the Russians and its ability to achieve internal stability. By restoring power in the international system and having sufficient resources, neo-imperialist tendencies increase and Russia tries to design new strategies following its power and role in the international system. In general, Russia's strategies in the Middle East are derived from its foreign policy principles and are designed according to national interests, its peripheral threats and environmental conditions, and variables from local multilateralism in the face of systemic crises to competitive strategies and tensions with rivals and hegemon. In other words, Russia is interested of strategic diversity in the Middle East, with attention to its peripheral interests and threats. ConclusionsThe argument here underscores the idea that Russia has a type of grand (strategic) behavior in world affairs, in which the Middle East region is only one – not necessarily the most important – element. The grand strategic behavior is the most visible element of Russia's foreign policy. Russia's actions in the Middle East could be viewed functionally as a type of grand behavior. Russia is constantly trying to improve its political, military, and economic interests in the region while reducing the advantages and strategic superiority of its potential rivals. Therefore, Russia's foreign policy strategies in the region based on interests, goals, and existing threats, are diverse and include a set of local multilateralism strategies, competitive strategies with emerging powers in the region, tension strategies with the hegemon, and Coalition strategies with regional actors.

HIV, Iran, Middle East Dear Editor, Human immune deficiency virus (HIV) is a member of the Retroviridae family that replicates in CD4 positive cells (1, 2). Although HIV has decreased in several countries in recent years, the center for disease control (CDC) reported a significant increase in morbidity and mortality between 2001 and 2012 in the Middle East and north Africa (MENA) region (3, 4). HIV epidemics are emerging among people who inject drugs in several countries in the MENA region.Investigations have documented substantial levels of HIV transmission and emerging epidemics among at least onethird of the countries in that region with a range of 10%-15% infected patients (5).

Changes in the international distribution of power create an incentive for strategic changes. With the emergence of emerging powers, international institutions are under pressure to adapt to the new realities of power. Based on the satisfaction of changing actors in power, as well as the hard and soft nature of power transformations, the strategic adaptation of actors takes the nature of power bargaining, strategic partnership, or strategic persuasion. This research tries to examine China's strategies in the Middle East region. To achieve this goal, the research explains China's strategies in the Middle East region with the assumption of power changes and their effect on the actors' strategies. The main hypothesis of the article is that China has adopted a strategy of creative adaptation in the regions with the experience of transformation in its power due to the reformist approach and having hard and soft power, and the Middle East is one of the regions that is in its strategic circle. Therefore, it seems that China's approach in the Middle East region is creative adaptation. On this basis, tries to avoid entering into controversial issues and trying to be active and adaptive in the region with innovative plans such as the Belt and Road and investing in different places.

MENA region includes the heterogeneous group of countries with a range of high-income oil-exporting countries in the Persian Gulf to middle-income and lower-middle-income countries as well as least developed countries. It is regarded as one of the world's largest net food importers which faces significant uncertainties from supply and demand. According to the World Economic Forum, the water crisis is the most important challenge that the Middle East and North Africa are the least prepared to face. In this paper with a review approach, the major global hazards, water resources status, consumption and policies of agricultural water, water use productivity in agricultural production, climate change impacts on agricultural production and systems in the region, vulnerability of rain fed agriculture, classifying MENA countries by main water management challenges, possible types of interventions according to the agricultural system, and the status of countries' natural resources have been investigated. Based on the results, environmental protection strategies, water allocation and water service management approaches for the countries of the region have proposed.

Turkey’s energy consumption has been increasing during recent years due to the country’s economic growth. This issue, accompanied by inadequate fossil fuel (oil and gas) resources, is one of the most effective elements in turkey’s foreign relations with the most important energy providing countries which provide energy for turkey. In addition to studying Turkey’s energy strategy regarding Azerbaijan and Iraq, this research tries to assess the success or failure of this strategy. The main question of this paper states: turkey’s energy strategy towards Azerbaijan and Iraq has been shaped based on which elements and how is it evaluated? The hypothesis of the research is that turkey’s energy strategy is based on diversifying energy (oil and gas) providing countries and reducing reliance on limited number of countries in providing energy and on the basis of this approach, turkey has been paying more attention to Caspian Sea and Middle East regions, especially the Republic of Azerbaijan and Iraq. The findings of this research, which has been conducted on the basis of descriptive-analytical method, indicates the expansion of Turkey’s relations with Azerbaijan and Iraq based on the volume of oil and gas exchanges and diversity of energy lines with the centrality of Turkey; this shows that turkey’s energy strategy has been successful.

Indications of abortion are different country by country, also in Islamic ones. The aim of this paper is over viewing of legal and religious indications of safe abortion among Middle East, Muslim countries. The results showed the variation among countries. In such a manner that, only three countries have the legal abortion in cases of rape or fatal impairment and two of them are allowing for early abortion. Some health problems in six countries in this case, permit for abortion. In certain situations, religious fatawa have been allowed abortions. Evaluation the interaction between policies and religion among different Muslim countries is important to understand this variation. To increasing women's right would be done more research and efforts. To impress and explain communities and religious leaders might be effective. Promoting advocacy among health professional could be other efforts to change the different beliefs among Muslim countries and others.

The Middle East is a complex, changing and evolving geopolitical region. A region with outstanding geopolitical and geostrategic potentials and capacities, which has presented numerous and different scenarios to regional and extra-regional actors. The scenes of the game where insecurity and tension are prominent and relations of influence, dominance and confrontation have priority over other forms. According to these conditions of the region, understanding the basic components that shape geopolitical relations in the region is important and prominent. Based on this, the current research has been carried out with descriptive and analytical methods, with the aim of understanding the basic geopolitical components that shape relations in the Middle East region and designing a pattern of geopolitical relations. The examination of various theories and viewpoints in the first step shows that the most important components affecting the pattern of geopolitical relations in Kharomianeh region include 40 geopolitical components which can be divided into four dimensions of geopolitical components: basic nature, basic human, combined and artificial. In the second step, the components were provided to the thinkers and experts for comment and were confirmed through the T-test. These geopolitical components, directly and indirectly, have been able to shape the pattern of interactive, confrontational, influence, dominance and competition geopolitical relations in the Middle East region, and on the other hand, they have been abused by regional and extra-regional actors to achieve their goals and interests. It has been used in line with tense relations and conflicts in the Middle East region.