In the contemporary global order, discourses of justice and security are increasingly intertwined with notions of suffering, victimhood, and the representation of victimization. Within this context, nations are not merely political actors but also subjects of structural and transnational victimization, experiencing the consequences of cross-border decisions that shape their collective existence. Adopting an interdisciplinary approach grounded in critical victimology and international criminal law, this study examines Iran as a case of transnational victimization and analyzes how this condition has been articulated within the framework of resistance diplomacy following the Twelve-Day War.

The primary objective of the study is to redefine victimization at the transnational level and to assess its role in shaping Iran’s post-war foreign policy discourse. Using a descriptive–analytical method, the research relies on documentary analysis and relevant theoretical literature to develop a conceptual model linking victimological perspectives with diplomatic practice.

The findings demonstrate that Iran’s victimization manifests across three interconnected dimensions: direct victimization resulting from military attacks and civilian casualties; structural victimization arising from the economic and social consequences of sanctions and infrastructural damage; and secondary victimization reproduced through silence or bias within international institutions. The interaction of these dimensions positions Iran as a multi-layered victim, simultaneously subjected to harm while mobilizing legitimacy, symbolic capital, and soft power.

The study concludes that transnational victimization should not be understood as a passive condition, but as a foundation for agency, resistance, and normative redefinition within the international system, offering a victim-centered and restorative framework for contemporary diplomacy.