This article investigates the normative grounds upon which the Iranian legal system legitimates the formation and enforcement of contracts, with particular reference to Article 10 of the Civil Code, a provision that constitutes the principal basis of contractual autonomy in Iranian jurisprudence. Five principal justifications are generally advanced in support of this norm: the freedom of wills and autonomy of Parties, the preservation of fidelity to promises and social morality, the promotion of equality and corrective justice, the facilitation of economic efficiency, and conformity with Sharia imperatives. Although these justificatory foundations are closely interwoven, the identification of a singular, overarching rationale proves problematic. Comparative analysis of relevant precedents within both Islamic jurisprudence and Western civil law traditions, together with ancillary legislative provisions on contracts, suggests that the predominant objective of the framework is the protection of individual autonomy. Nevertheless, contemporary doctrinal and jurisprudential developments reveal an increasing orientation towards considerations of exchange fairness and, at times, distributive justice. Accordingly, these values warrant heightened attention in both the interpretation and judicial enforcement of contractual obligations under Iranian law.
Rajabi, A. (2025). The Rationale of Contract Law: A Contest of Values in the Context of the Objectives and Foundations of Article 10 of the Iranian Civil Code. Legal Research Quarterly, (), -. doi: 10.48308/jlr.2025.241137.2943
MLA
Rajabi, A. . "The Rationale of Contract Law: A Contest of Values in the Context of the Objectives and Foundations of Article 10 of the Iranian Civil Code", Legal Research Quarterly, , , 2025, -. doi: 10.48308/jlr.2025.241137.2943
HARVARD
Rajabi, A. (2025). 'The Rationale of Contract Law: A Contest of Values in the Context of the Objectives and Foundations of Article 10 of the Iranian Civil Code', Legal Research Quarterly, (), pp. -. doi: 10.48308/jlr.2025.241137.2943
CHICAGO
A. Rajabi, "The Rationale of Contract Law: A Contest of Values in the Context of the Objectives and Foundations of Article 10 of the Iranian Civil Code," Legal Research Quarterly, (2025): -, doi: 10.48308/jlr.2025.241137.2943
VANCOUVER
Rajabi, A. The Rationale of Contract Law: A Contest of Values in the Context of the Objectives and Foundations of Article 10 of the Iranian Civil Code. Legal Research Quarterly, 2025; (): -. doi: 10.48308/jlr.2025.241137.2943
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