THE communities of THE Kura- Araxes cultural complex with THEir highly distinctive cultural AND economic features represent THE occupation of some parts of THE Near East AND CaucASIA during THE Bronze Age.  Generally, THE origin of this culture is sought in THE SouTHErn CAUCASUS. In Iran, THE spread of this cultural tradition represents not only a rupture in THE cultural development of THE Mesopotamian traditions. Environmental changes linked to Rapid Climate Change (RCC) also forced THE population to develop new economic strategies. Until about two decades ago, knowledge of THE flourishing Kura Araxes occupation was limited to THE north-west of THE country AND to some parts of THE CENTRAL Zagros, but recent research in THE zones SOUTH AND north of THE Alborz Mountain Range, on THE norTHErn edge of THE CENTRAL Plateau allows by now to present a more detailed picture of THE Kura Araxes occupation in both diachronic AND synchronic perspective. Recent archaeological excavations in THE two sites of Qaleh Tepe AND Ali Yourd Tepe revealed some important new data from Kura-Araxes settlements in THE corridor of THE north CENTRAL Plateau AND northwestern Iran. THE two sites are located in THE eastern Zanjan Province in THE Abhar Rood Basin. This paper aims to update THE chronology of THE Kura-Araxes culture based on THE radiocarbon dates from THE two sites of Qaleh Tepe AND Ali Yourd Tepe. THE stratigraphy AND radiocarbon dates of THE two sites reveal THE beginning of THE Kura-Araxes culture in THE region from c. 2900 BCE, followed by a quick extension into THE norTHErn CENTRAL Plateau, where it is represented by sites such as Shizar, Doranabad, Ostur, AND Barlekin. Similarity AND diversity characterize THE Kura-Araxes cultural complex.  However, based on THE current data, THE ceramic style represents a common feature, but also THE architectural remains indicate a common cultural tradition during THE first quarter of THE third millennium BCE in THE CENTRAL Zagros, northwestern Iran, AND on THE CENTRAL Plateau

THE Kerman region stANDs out as one of THE most significant mining areas globally, owing to its extensive AND abundant mineral resources. Bam County, situated in THE souTHEastern part of Kerman, has historically served as a crucial hub connecting THE souTHEast of Iran with Sistan AND Afghanistan, attributed to its distinctive geological AND geomorphological characteristics. Enjoying considerable commercial AND military importance since THE Sassanid era, Bam County has garnered attention in archaeological research as a strategically vital region. THE exploration of Bam's archaeological sites becomes imperative for historical governments, highlighting THE need to investigate AND comprehend ancient centers engaged in metal smelting AND mining activities. Consequently, an archaeological survey of THE CENTRAL part of Bam County was initiated in 2018-2019 with THE specific objective of identifying metal smelting workshops AND ancient mines. This article presents THE outcomes of a field survey conducted in THE CENTRAL part of Bam County, shedding light on evidence of metal smelting centers, furnaces, AND historical mining activities. THE primary research inquiries center around THE chronology of mining evidence in THE CENTRAL part of Bam County, THE types of metals extracted, AND THE processes involved in metal mining AND metallurgy within this region. Employing field AND documentary methods, THE research adopts a descriptive-analytical approach. THE study identified AND examined eight sites showcasing evidence of smelting AND slag, one ancient mine, AND two active mines. THEse sites have been associated with THE extraction AND processing of metals AND elements such as tin, zinc, lead, silver, iron, AND, to a lesser extent, gold. Notably, THE substantial volume of zinc AND zinc oxide processing in seven sites holds significance. Although cultural materials for chronological dating were absent in THE investigated sites, historical sources indicate that THE extraction AND smelting of THEse metals in THE region date back to at least THE 3rd century AH (9th century AD) AND persisted until THE Qajar period

After THE collapse of THE USSR AND independence of CENTRAL ASIAn AND SOUTH CAUCASUS republics as Iran’ s norTHErn neighbors, THE ground for establishing relations was provided. THE newly independent states have lots of civilizational, historical AND cultural commonalities with Iran. THErefore, after THE Islamic Revolution, Iran has had a cultural perspective toward THEse norTHErn neighbors, AND hence, tried to increase its influence upon THE regional states through cultural diplomacy as a part of its foreign policy. Regarding THE capabilities AND potentials, Iran has not been successful enough in balancing hardware AND software elements in its foreign policy. Compared to THE official AND clear forms, cultural diplomacy is much more effective due to THE indirect AND hidden nature of its goals. In this paper, we have tried to explain THE opportunities AND challenges of Iran toward SOUTH CAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIAn states based on THE conceptual framework of cultural diplomacy. THE main question in this paper is that what are THE Iranian cultural diplomacy opportunities AND challenges in CENTRAL ASIA AND CAUCASUS? In response, THE hypoTHEsis to this question is that Iran’ s cultural diplomacy has confronted challenges in THE field of foreign intervention AND ideology, AND at THE same time, in THE fields of religion, civilization AND linguistics, THEre seems to have been some fruitful opportunities.

THE Russian Empire AND United Kingdom as two main players in THE great game of nineteenth century kicked off a colonial rivalry in THE geopolitical arena of CENTRAL ASIA. However THE repetition of this great game in THE post-cold war world led to some criticisms to THE geopolitical ideas dominating 19th AND 20th centuries that focus on THE geopolitics of resistance as one of THE most important approaches in THE geographical policies in THE beginning of THE third millennium.THE present paper is an attempt to study THE level of influence of THEse two approaches- domination AND resistance - on THE current of THE new great game in CENTRAL EurASIA. THE findings of THE study indicate that THE degree of congruity of THE domination geopolitical approach is higher than that of THE resistance approach. At THE same time it is necessary to establish an active civil society based on sociopolitical reforms in THE countries of THE game field in order to materialize THE principles of geopolitics of resistance.

Along with THE classical diplomacy, which relies on traditional sources of power, such as economic, political AND military power, today a new source of power has been taken into consideration which is affected from civilizational identity. In oTHEr words, culture, identity AND civilization subscriptions provides a ground for integration of countries AND supplying national interests in foreign policy arena. In fact, deep cultural AND civilizational connections could pave route for regional integration AND consequently help THE countries of a civilizational scope to achieve THEir common goals. Accordingly, THE present study seeks to answer this main question how THE historical-cultural elements can help toward THE integration between Iran AND THE countries of CENTRAL ASIA AND THE CAUCASUS? In this article, THE hypoTHEsis that was examined in response to THE above question is that THE promotion of "civilizational foreign policy" based on THE concept of "cultural Iran" can play a decisive role in THE integration of THEse countries. This Research utilizes THE descriptive-analytical method AND data was collected through library AND internet sources.

THE collapse of THE Soviet Union AND THE demise of THE ruling Communist ideology which led to THE emergence of a relatively open atmosphere in Russia, CENTRAL ASIA AND THE CAUCASUS also witnessed THE revival of Islamist currents AND tendencies in THEse areas. THE new situation AND atmosphere was also utilized by oTHEr countries AND forces outside of THE region for THEir own political AND cultural objectives. Mysticism, which as a religion-based current had survived Communist repression, has gained popularity throughout THE region in THE post-Soviet era. Moreover, it appears to be considered in THE bigger region as a strong obstacle militating against THE propagation of extremist currents such as Wahabism. With this picture in mind, THE authors undertake to study THE historical role of mysticism in THE spread of Islam in THE region, AND assess its current AND future role, especially from THE vantage point of Iran’s long-term interests AND interactions with THE region.

After THE collapse of THE Soviet Union AND THE end of THE cold war, NATO, as a legacy of THE cold war political AND ideological equations in order to maintain its existence AND survival managed several mechanisms to expAND geographically AND functionally. THE expansion of NATO presence in CENTRAL ASIA AND SOUTH CAUCASUS should be understood in this relation. Regarding to THE constructionist view AND cooperative security system framework, NATO, due to maintain its existence after THE cold war AND to improve stability in its neighboring security environments has expANDed THE extent of its activity into THE geographic-strategic axis of SOUTH CAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA.

A B S T R A C T Sustainability in horticulture products depends on economic, social AND environmental factors. Knowing THEse factors' sustainability levels can be effective in formulating sustainable horticulture development strategies AND THEir effect on THE sustainable livelihood of THE user family. THErefore, this research aims to analyze THE sustainability of horticulture products AND THEir role in THE livelihood of THE beneficiary households in THE villages of THE CENTRAL part of BANDar Gaz city. THE required information was collected through a researcher-made questionnaire, THE validity of which was obtained based on THE opinion of relevant experts AND THE reliability of which was obtained by calculating Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.89. THE statistical population of this research includes garden operators in three villages of Eastern Gaz, Western Gaz AND Val Afra, which was calculated using Cochran's formula as a sample size of 250. A rANDom sampling method was used to select research samples. To measure THE sustainability of garden products, 45 indicators were used, separated by economic, social, AND environmental dimensions, AND 53 indicators were used, separated by economic, social, human, AND environmental dimensions, to measure THE sustainable livelihood of THE beneficiary household. According to THE Spearman test, horticulture products' economic, social AND environmental sustainability is effective in THE sustainable livelihood of THE user family. THE Kruskal-Wallis test results indicate that THE beneficiaries' sustainable livelihoods in THE three studied villages have a significant difference up to THE 99% confidence level. THE results of THE one-way independent variance analysis test on THE cultivated area of three villages AND horticulture income in three villages also stated a significant difference in THEse three factors up to THE 99% level. Extended Abstract Introduction THE most critical challenge in THE world today is food security AND providing essential human needs. THE lack of balance between population growth AND agricultural production has made developing countries face a serious challenge. Sustainable agriculture is an approach that meets human needs without harming THE environment AND uses natural resources better. Sustainable horticulture is a type of agriculture that is in THE direction of human benefits, is more efficient in THE use of resources, AND is in balance with THE environment. Horticulture activity in THE category of sustainable agricultural development, considering its nature AND THE positive aspects that govern this activity, in case of proper management, is superior in terms of not disrupting THE ecological balance or at least due to little damage compared to agriculture. In fact, THE benefits that can be listed for horticultural activities in order to achieve sustainable agricultural development compared to agriculture are food supply AND welfare facilities, storage AND meeting THE needs of oTHEr plants, growing crops under THE shelter of trees, soil protection AND green cover, air conditioning AND increase of atmospheric precipitation, less consumption of chemical fertilizers AND preservation of plant genetic resources. A sustainable livelihood strategy is one of THE new strategies that can help THE villagers' problems. THE sustainable livelihood approach was proposed in THE 1980s as a new approach to rural development to reduce AND eradicate rural poverty. Livelihood is sustainable when it can withstAND unexpected pressures AND damages AND restore itself AND improve its capabilities AND capital in THE future without harming natural resources. THE main problem of THE research is, what is THE state of sustainability of THE garden products system in THE CENTRAL villages of BANDar Gaz city? We are also trying to find out what effect THE sustainability of garden products can have on THE sustainable livelihood of rural households. BANDar Gaz is one of THE Golestan province's cities, located in THE souTHEastern part of Gorgan. In terms of longitude AND latitude, it is located between 53 degrees AND 51 minutes to 54 degrees AND 3 minutes of east longitude AND 36 degrees AND 39 minutes to 36 degrees AND 49 minutes of north latitude. BANDar Gaz has a population of 20,742 people in 6,715 households, according to 2016.   Methodology This research is of applied type AND descriptive-analytical AND survey method, carried out in THE 2018-2019 crop year. THE main tools for data collection were questionnaires, observations AND interviews. THE statistical population of THE research consists of 715 users of horticultural products. A rANDom sampling method was exerted to select THE samples, AND 250 samples were selected based on Cochran's formula.   Results AND discussion THE Kruskal-Wallis test was exerted to investigate AND compare THE household's sustainable livelihood level using gardens in THE studied villages so that THE results show a significant difference of 99%, 95% AND 90% in THE variables. THE results show that THE level of sustainable livelihood is different in THE three villages, so based on THE results, THE level of sustainability of horticultural products is also different in THEse three villages.   Conclusion THE efficiency of horticultural work for support AND investment in THE village of East Gaz is more than THE oTHEr two villages. THE ability to buy housing, THE amount of meeting health needs, THE amount of willingness to migrate, AND THE amount of unemployed AND employed people are more in West Gaz village. However, regarding THE village's up-to-date architecture AND THE village houses' strength, THEre is a more favorable situation in THE village of Eastern Gaz. THE results of one-way analysis of variance ANOVA indicate a significant difference between THE garden income of three villages among THE examined components up to THE 99% level.   Funding THEre is no funding support.   Authors’ Contribution THE authors contributed equally to THE conceptualization AND writing of THE article. All of THE authors approTHE contenttent of THE manuscript AND agreed on all aspects of THE work declaration of competing interest none.   Conflict of Interest THE authors declared no conflict of interest.   Acknowledgments  We are grateful to all THE scientific consultants of this paper.

Collapse of THE Soviet Union is considered as THE most significant development happened in THE last decades of THE previous century. Transformation of power relations AND balance of forces at regional level as well as activation of transregional AND particularly regional powers to maintain THEir presence AND extend THEir influence over souTHErn Soviet Union could be mentioned as consequences of such a development. This is while; THEse powers had been previously prohibited from playing active roles by THE Soviet Union. In this big game, THE main rivalry has been developed between Iran AND Turkey, two regional powers that border CENTRAL ASIA AND CAUCASUS AND enjoy significant geographical AND historical status in addition to an ancient civilization. THE article reveals that despite current commonalities, THEse two countries have faced some barriers to integration in CENTRAL ASIA. THE paper proceeds with studying THE most common obstacles, i.e. ideological AND economic rivalry as well as confrontation between regional roles (geopolitics).