Sustainable development emphasizes striking a balance between the current needs of societies and preserving natural resources for future. The present study aimed to conduct a comparative analysis of the management challenges of sustainable development in Iran and the Persian Gulf countries. In this study, the documentary study method was used and data was collected from scientific sources, government reports, and international documents. A comparative analysis of development strategies and policies of different countries, especially Iran and the Persian Gulf countries, was conducted, and this study proceeded based on the theoretical framework of sustainable development in economic, social, and environmental dimensions. The results showed that Iran faces major challenges in the field of dependence on oil and gas resources, natural resource management, and environmental crises. In contrast, the Persian Gulf countries have achieved successes in sustainable development by investing in economic diversification and governmental and social reforms. This analysis showed that Iran faces serious problems in the fields of management and development, especially in the fields of environment, infrastructure, and governance, compared to its neighboring countries. In this regard, it is suggested that Iran, considering the experiences of the Persian Gulf countries, put management reforms and improved governance on its agenda.