Iran Press: Columnist praises Iran’s "constructive interaction" foreign policy
Siyasat-e Ruz, Tehran
9 Jul 06
Text of commentary by Ali Sharafpur entitled "Constructive interaction
and the nuclear case" by Iranian newspaper Siyasat-e Ruz on 9 July
After the ninth administration took the helm of foreign policy,
Iranian foreign policy experienced pleasant changes that were based on
authentic principles and ideals of the Islamic Revolution. Generally,
it can be concluded that Iranian foreign policy is moving from an
approach based on removing tensions to another based on constructive
interaction, i.e., a shift from a policy focused on trust-building
and detente to a dynamic and proactive policy based on constructive
interaction has occurred.
The doctrine of constructive interaction is based on the fact that
playing as a powerful actor on the international stage requires
adopting a proactive, dynamic, effective and partisan policy that in
turn must be based on a precise knowledge of political equations. Based
on this, the doctrine of constructive interaction is one step ahead
of the detente policy and an advanced phase of this policy.
There is no doubt that the Islamic Republic of Iran is the biggest
threat to illegitimate interests of America and the bullyism of this
imperialist state. These interests have accumulated in the Middle
East region and the Persian Gulf, as the geopolitical and strategic
point of the region. For the same reason, in the 27 years after the
glorious Islamic Revolution leaders of world imperialism have sought
to limit the role of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the region, have
ceaselessly tried to weaken it in all fields, and have employed all
political and economic measures to achieve this goal. The expansion
of the military presence of America in post-revolutionary years and
the military occupation of two neighbouring countries – Afghanistan
and Iraq – in recent years prove the comment that all these decisions
have been aimed at putting Iran in a state of siege and using military
invasion when required. Of course, it is obvious these measures have
led to diametrically opposite results and have plunged America into
serious problems and crises. Fortunately, as America faces serious
challenges in the region, Iran’s power and influence in the region
has strengthened so that former American Secretary of State Madeleine
Albright stated that ignoring the role of the region in Iraq was the
biggest mistake made by the American foreign policy.
Regarding the above facts and existing opportunities (the challenges
facing America in the region and Iran’s growing influence and position
in Iraq) and with respect to the constructive interaction policy,
we can mange the situation to put America face to face with numerous
and increasing crises in the region and on the other hand strengthen
and improve our position in the region.
In this connection, in order to neutralize America’s measures
especially concerning the settlement of the nuclear dispute which is
nowadays used by the West as a tool to control Iran it is inevitable to
adopt the policy of constructive interaction. So, as we have already
witnessed, political, military, security and specially economic
relations with countries in five regions as follows must be improved:
1 – South (Sheikhdoms of the Persian Gulf), 2 – East (Pakistan and
Afghanistan), 3 – Central Asia (China and Russia), 4 – The Caucasus
(Azerbaijan and Armenia) and 5 – Turkey and Iraq.
The final important fact is that Iran must not only pursue the policy
of constructive interaction in its relations with its neighbours but
towards other countries, preferentially the countries of the region
and then the countries located beyond the region, in order to get the
desired result. Developing relations with Latin American countries,
the African Union, and neighbours of Iraq that have presently gathered
in Tehran, and continuing recent contacts between Iranian officials
(Larijani and Mottaki) with their European and Asian counterparts can
be good instances for constructive interactions. These initiatives
at the present time can improve Iran’s position in the face of
extravagant demands of the West in the course of the nuclear dispute
and finally strengthen Iran’s position in regional and international
equations. Of course, it must be noted that bilateral interaction does
not mean making concessions and abandoning principles and ideals of
our foreign policy because this may lead to the isolation of Iran from
free countries and liberation movements that will not be in accordance
with our national interests and defined objectives of our country.