PRESIDENT-ELECT PEZESHKIAN SAYS IRAN WILL PURSUE OPPORTUNITY-DRIVEN FOREIGN POLICY

KUALA LUMPUR, July 13 (Bernama) -- President-elect Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran, under his leadership, will pursue an opportunity-driven foreign policy by creating balance in relations with all countries – consistent with its national interests, economic development, and requirements of regional and global peace and security.

In his first published article since winning the presidential election on July 5, Pezeshkian, 69,  said Iran’s foreign policy is founded on the principles of "dignity, wisdom, and prudence", with the formulation and execution of this state-policy being the responsibility of the president and the government.

He said he will prioritise strengthening relations with its neighbours to champion the establishment of a "strong region" rather than one “where a single country pursues hegemony and dominance over the others”.

“I wish to emphasise that my administration will be guided by the commitment to preserving Iran's national dignity and international stature under all circumstances.

“I intend to leverage all authority granted to my office to pursue this overarching objective. Accordingly, we will welcome sincere efforts to alleviate tensions and will reciprocate good-faith with good-faith,” he said in his article, titled ‘My Message to the New World’, published in Tehran Times on Friday.

He said as a first measure his administration will urge Iran’s neighbouring Arab countries to collaborate and utilise all political and diplomatic levers to prioritise achieving a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and prevent the broadening of the conflict.

“We must then diligently work to end the prolonged occupation that has devastated the lives of four generations of Palestinians.

“In this context, I want to emphasise that all states have a binding duty under the 1948 Genocide Convention to take measures to prevent genocide; not to reward it through normalisation of relations with the perpetrators.

Pezeskhian said Iran is eager to collaborate with Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Iraq, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and regional organisations to deepen economic ties, bolster trade relations, promote joint-venture investment, tackle common challenges, and work towards establishing a regional framework for dialogue, confidence-building, and development based on the principles of Iran’s foreign policy.

He also expressed appreciation to China and Russia for consistently standing by Iran during challenging times.

In 2023, China played a pivotal role in facilitating the normalisation of Iran’s relations with Saudi Arabia, showcasing its constructive vision and forward-thinking approach to international affairs, Pezeshkian said, adding that Russia is a valued strategic ally and neighbour to Iran and his administration will remain committed to expanding and enhancing our cooperation.

“Iran strives for peace for the people of Russia and Ukraine, and my government will stand prepared to actively support initiatives aimed at achieving this objective.

“I will continue to prioritise bilateral and multilateral cooperation with Russia, particularly within frameworks such as BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and Eurasia Economic Union,” said Pezeshkian. 

The president-elect expressed his commitment to fostering mutually beneficial relations with emerging international players in the Global South, particularly African nations; and existing ties between Iran and Latin America will be closely maintained and deepened to foster development, dialogue and cooperation in all fields. 

On ties with Europe, he said he looks forward to engaging in constructive dialogue with European countries to set the relations on the right path, based on principles of mutual respect and equal footing.

Pezeshkian said the United States needs to recognise the reality and understand, once and for all, that Iran does not – and will not – respond to pressure.

He emphasised that Iran’s defence doctrine does not include nuclear weapons, and urged the United States to learn from past miscalculations and adjust its policy accordingly.

“Decisionmakers in Washington need to recognise that a policy that consists of pitting regional countries against each other has not succeeded and will not succeed in the future. They need to come to terms with this reality and avoid exacerbating current tensions,” he added.

Pezeshkian said the Iranian people have entrusted him with a strong mandate to vigorously pursue constructive engagement on the international stage while insisting on Iranian rights, dignity and  deserved role in the region and the world.

“I deeply value their trust and am fully committed to cultivating consensus, both domestically and internationally, to uphold the promises I made during my campaign.

“I extend an open invitation to those willing to join us in this historic endeavour,” he added.

Pezeshkian, a trained heart surgeon, was elected as the ninth president of Iran after after defeating Saeed Jalili in the runoff of the presidential election.

-- BERNAMA