International market entry for family firms is a complex process influenced not only by economic and competitive considerations but also by internal family dynamics and socioemotional wealth (SEW). This study aims to examine the role of family involvement in the internationalization strategies of Iranian family businesses. Employing a qualitative approach, the research utilizes a multiple-case study design. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with five family firms possessing international experience and were subsequently analyzed using network thematic analysis. Furthermore, Interpretive Structural Modeling was applied to systematically analyze and model the hierarchical interactions among the dimensions of family involvement and their impact on international market entry preferences.
The results indicate that "family control" and " intergenerational succession" serve as the root factors driving internationalization decisions in family firms. Conversely, linking variables—such as family members’ identification with the firm, binding social ties, and the mode of foreign market entry—are shaped through continuous interaction with other familial and environmental dimensions. Accordingly, the key implication for industrial policymaking is that supporting the internationalization of Iranian family firms requires differentiated policies based on family governance structures, a deep understanding of internal family dynamics, and incentives aligned with the level of socioemotional wealth, rather than uniform and generic policy approaches. Furthermore, by developing a thematic map that provides an empirical account of how family involvement manifests across different dimensions of socioemotional wealth, this study offers a framework that can serve as a basis for further theory development concerning the internationalization of Iranian family firms.