Abstract Choosing appropriate partners are usually one of the most critical issues in formation of international strategic alliances and theirs performance. Scholars paid less attention to challenges and outcomes of partner nationality origin, while deeply investigated another criteria of partner selection such as complementary resources and capabilities. Current research evaluates the role of nationality origin on international strategic alliances performance, as well as the effect of market focus on the relationship between origins - performance. Data for this empirical study gathered from 93 strategic alliances in contracting sector between Iranian firms with developed, developing or local partners. Then the role of nationality origin and market focus in independent hypothesis were analyzed by regression models. Findings explained that performance of allying with partners from three distinctive groups, and also confirm the effect of nationality origin on strategic alliance performance, as well as the role of market focus on performance of strategic alliances.