Tag: Russia
Why Iran Prefers The Eastern Bloc Over The West
When the civil war in Syria began in 2011, the U.S.-led bloc and its regional allies, including Saudi Arabia, devoted their resources to removing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. However, as the result of Iranian-Russian cooperation to buttress the Assad’s government, they failed to achieve their goals. The addition to this alliance of Turkey, which initially opposed Assad’s government, has further made it clear that President Assad has won the six-year war and will remain in power. If successful, the trilateral cooperation can play a more substantive role in managing other crises in the region.
Trump’s Syria Strike Puts America At The Precipice Of Another Middle East War
“Trump’s strike changed the dynamic and put us on a path toward confrontation. His actions in Syria will herald the following 10 consequences and side effects, which, when taken together, could unleash an imbroglio the likes of which could be worse than what followed the Iraq War.”
“Trump’s Syria Strike Puts America At The Precipice Of Another Middle East War,” Seyed Hossein Mousavian, The Huffington Post, April 13, 2017.
Amb. Mousavian Quoted in Le Monde on Syria Strikes
Ambassador Mousavian Quoted:
“For Iran, it is the responsibility of the UNSC to decide about all issues related to international peace and security and therefore the US cannot determine redlines and take actions unilaterally. The US is making the UNSC irrelevant. ”
“As the US become more unpredictable, Iran would be also more unpredictable.”
“L’Iran est encerclé par les Américains,” Caroline Hayek, Le Monde, April 8, 2017.
Russia-Iran strategic ties keep US guessing
“On the other hand, European Union has maintained support for the Iran nuclear deal. At a recent Track II held in Beirut, former Iranian diplomat and a close associate of Rouhani, Seyed Hossein Mousavian gave his prognosis on the US’ options: ‘They would let the deal go on, but they would try to undo practically the Iranian nuclear deal through many other sanctions under … the umbrella of terrorism, missiles, human rights and regional issues.’
“Russia-Iran strategic ties keep US guessing,” MK Bhadrakumar, Indian Punchline, March 26, 2017.
Trump’s ISIS challenge: Given the President’s many impulses, some contradictory, it’s far, far easier said than done
“Trump’s instincts on the need to seriously address the ISIS threat are correct. Indeed, the UN Security Council has also referred to ISIS as a leading global threat. However, Trump will face five major challenges in any attempt to destroy ISIS, which his own contradictory aims and positions only serve to exacerbate.”
“Trump’s ISIS challenge: Given the President’s many impulses, some contradictory, it’s far, far easier said than done,” Seyed Hossein Mousavian, NY Daily News, March 16, 2017.
Trump Cannot Afford To Shut Out Iran If He Wants To Defeat ISIS
“Trump’s current foreign policy approach is not only self-defeating, but also forgoes a golden opportunity to shape a coherent strategy that would allow him to usher in a political solution to the Syrian war, destroy ISIS and repair U.S. ties with the Kremlin. Improved U.S-Russia relations will also open the door to Moscow serving as an interlocutor facilitating mutually beneficial U.S.-Iran engagement.”
“Trump Cannot Afford To Shut Out Iran If He Wants To Defeat ISIS,” Seyed Hossein Mousavian, The Huffington Post, January 31, 2017.
America’s Attitude Toward Iran Risks Shifting Tehran’s East-West Balance Toward Russia
Given its civilizational history, during most of which it played a leading role in the region, Iran will undoubtedly continue to be a major regional power. Its foreign policy will also continue to be based on the tenet of “neither East nor West.” That said, Iran’s success in maintaining this policy rests on its ability to balance its relations with the major Eastern and Western powers ― in this case the United States and Russia.
“America’s Attitude Toward Iran Risks Shifting Tehran’s East-West Balance Toward Russia,” Seyed Hossein Mousavian, The Huffington Post, October 13, 2016.
Who Benefits Most From a Sabotaged Iran Nuclear Deal
Beyond the personal interests of the states mentioned above, a JCPOA failure will serve to diminish the pragmatic minds in Tehran and Washington that negotiated it and bolster the voices of the more polarized camps on both sides that prefer a hostile U.S.-Iran relationship. The hardline opponents of the JCPOA in the U.S. Congress, Israel and Saudi Arabia will gain legitimacy and boost their respective standings. In Iran, mistrust of the U.S. will be reaffirmed in the once-hopeful masses and opportunities for further dialogue will disappear.
“Who Benefits Most From a Sabotaged Iran Nuclear Deal,” Seyed Hossein Mousavian and Hesam Rahmani, The Huffington Post, September 7, 2016.
Russia Entry Adds New Fuel to Syria War
“Russia Entry Adds New Fuel to Syria War,” Yaroslav Trofimov, The Wall Street Journal, October 1, 2015.