This study aims to provide a novel explanation of the foreign policy of the Safavid monarch, Shah Abbas I (r. 1587–1629 / 996–1038 AH), through the lens of John Mearsheimer’s theory of Offensive Realism. The central research question is: Why did Shah Abbas I adopt such a policy in the regional and international arenas? Utilizing a descriptive-analytical method and drawing upon documentary-library data, this research demonstrates that Shah Abbas increased Iran’s relative power through military and economic reforms, the centralization of power, and the reduction of dependence on the Qizilbash, thereby ensuring the survival and security of his reign and the Persian state. Through the tactical "Peace of Istanbul," the reclamation of lost territories, and multilateral diplomacy with European powers, he shifted the balance of power against the Ottoman Empire in favor of the Safavids. His proactive behavior in expelling the Portuguese from the Persian Gulf, coupled with alliance-building with powers such as Britain and the conquest of a significant portion of Iraq, reflects strategic rationality and a drive for survival and regional hegemony. The findings confirm that Shah Abbas’s foreign policy aligns significantly with the core components of Offensive Realism, including international anarchy, the maximization of relative power, and preemptive action. The primary factors shaping his foreign policy were regional anarchy, the quest for survival, and the transformation of Iran into a regional power. By presenting an interdisciplinary model, this research seeks to fill the theoretical gap in the analysis of Safavid foreign policy and open new horizons for comparative historical-theoretical studies.