This study seeks to explain the underlying logic of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s engagement in regional conflicts and the decision-making structures that shape them. central research question it addresses is: which factors at the national, regional, and international levels have shaped Iran’s conduct in regional disputes, and what underlying logic drives this behavior? In response, the article critiques both purely materialist and norm-based approaches and introduces the conceptual framework of “Exigency Pragmatism” as an integrative and alternative model. This framework underscores the interplay between Iran’s strategic culture, regional geopolitical dynamics, the structure of power in the international system, and domestic security imperatives. The study finds that Iran’s regional policy since the 1979 Islamic Revolution has been largely characterized by a form of tactical and situational pragmatism, in which surrounding security threats are perceived as urgent emergencies. This logic of action is fundamentally defensive, survival-oriented, security-driven, and interest-based. In responding to regional crises, Iranian decision-makers have prioritized immediate needs and contextual exigencies over long-term strategic planning