Citizenship rights and social capital, as two fundamental pillars of sustainable social and political development, have a mutually reinforcing and bidirectional relationship with one another. In Iran, although the Constitution and the Citizens' Rights Charter provide relatively comprehensive frameworks for guaranteeing citizens' rights, existing evidence indicates that the practical realization of these rights has faced significant obstacles. Restrictions on civil and political liberties, weak enforcement guarantees, and the inefficiency of civil and formal institutions have led to diminished public trust and a decline in social and political participation, ultimately weakening social capital.



This research employs a qualitative approach using a documentary-analytical method. Data were gathered from laws and official documents, national reports and social surveys, as well as domestic and international academic sources. They were categorized and analyzed based on indicators of citizenship rights (civil, political, social, and cultural) and components of social capital (trust, participation, cohesion, and civil networks).



The findings reveal that the ineffective realization of citizenship rights has a direct relationship with the decline of institutional and formal social capital. Conversely, strong social capital provides the groundwork for demanding rights, civil oversight, enhancing institutional efficiency, and the better realization of citizenship rights. This bidirectional cycle demonstrates that the persistence of the gap between legal frameworks and implementation reality will exacerbate the state-citizen gap and reduce social cohesion.



The research results emphasize the necessity of revising policies and programs aimed at strengthening citizenship rights, promoting institutional transparency and accountability, and supporting civil institutions and civic education. This is essential to pave the way for achieving sustainable development in Iran through revitalizing social capital.