Vladimir Sazhin, candidate of historical sciences, Senior Researcher, Center for Near and Middle Eastern Studies, Institute of Oriental Studies RAS, professor

The President-elect of the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI), Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian, has made important announcements in recent days about his foreign policy priorities. On July 10, he published an open letter addressed to Arab countries in Al-Arabi Al-Jadeed, and on July 12, an article in English in the Iranian newspaper Tehran Times entitled “My message to the world.” In these materials, the new Iranian president defined the main directions of his foreign policy, which he will implement after coming to presidential power.

In his addresses to the Arab world and the whole world, M. Pezeshkian emphasized the priorities of his foreign policy, which are focused on neighboring countries, the Arab world and the East, which in Iran means Russia, China and India. This is no accident.

It is well known that several years ago, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei put forward the idea of ​​a new foreign policy strategy, which is based on the concept of the value of relations with the East. Thus, Rakhbar has repeatedly pointed out: “One of our current priorities in foreign policy is the preference of the East to the West, neighbors to distant countries and nations, and countries that share our views and have common features with us to others.” Emphasizing “the need to establish links with countries on a rapidly developing trajectory,” he stated that “these countries are primarily in Asia. So we must look to the East and not to the West. Moreover, turning to the West and Europe does nothing but keep oneself waiting, ingratiate oneself to them and humiliate oneself”.

President-elect Pezeshkian’s first statements, statements, letters and articles on foreign policy indicate his strict adherence to the ideas of Ayatollah Khamenei.

Thus, in his address to the world, M. Pezeshkian confirmed his desire to strengthen ties with Russia and China. “China and Russia have always supported us in difficult times. We deeply value this friendship. Our 25-year roadmap with China represents an important milestone towards establishing a mutually beneficial “comprehensive strategic partnership”, and we look forward to greater cooperation with Beijing as we move towards a new world order.

Russia is a valued strategic ally and neighbor of Iran, and my administration will remain committed to expanding and deepening our cooperation. We strive for peace for the peoples of Russia and Ukraine, and my government will be ready to actively support initiatives aimed at achieving this goal. “I will continue to prioritize bilateral and multilateral cooperation with Russia, especially within frameworks such as BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Eurasian Economic Union,” the new Iranian president writes in his article.

For the first time, Pezeshkian officially announced his intention to develop relations with Moscow during a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, in which the new head of Iran’s executive branch expressed his readiness to sign a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement with the Russian Federation in October at the BRICS summit in Kazan.

In a Tehran Times article, the new president stressed that Iran will prioritize strengthening relations with its neighbors. “We,” says M. Pezeshkian, “will advocate the creation of a “strong region,” and not one where one country strives for hegemony and dominance over others. I firmly believe that neighboring and brotherly countries should not waste their valuable resources on destructive competition, arms races or unreasonably restraining each other. Instead, we will strive to create an environment in which our resources can be directed towards the progress and development of the region for the benefit of all.”

In his message to Arab countries, President-elect Pezeshkian expressed his commitment to strengthening relations with all neighboring Gulf States emphasizing the common ground and mutual interests that Iran shares with its Muslim and Arab neighbors on international and regional issues.

1. Pezeshkian confirmed the Iranian position on the Palestinian issue: “The bleeding wound of Palestine is our common cause, and its treatment is also our business,” he said. “Security and stability in the region will only be achieved by recognizing the right of the Palestinian people to fully resist as a means of liberating them from occupation and ensuring their natural and self-evident rights.” In his message to the leader of the Palestinian group Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, the elected president of Iran assured him of the final victory of the Palestinian resistance against the Israeli occupation.

In a response letter expressing gratitude for the congratulations on his election, M. Pezeshkian expressed gratitude to Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and reaffirmed Iran’s unwavering commitment to supporting the Axis of Resistance. This axis is an alliance of Shia paramilitary groups from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen under the auspices of the IRGC with the goal of expelling the United States from the Middle East, eliminating the “Zionist entity” (Israel) and supporting Shia politicians throughout the region.

The new president is also hopeful about relations with Latin American countries: “Iran’s relations with Latin America are well established and will be closely maintained and deepened in order to promote development, dialogue and cooperation in all areas. The potential for cooperation between Iran and Latin American countries is significantly greater than what is currently being realized, and we look forward to further strengthening our ties.”

Of course, M. Pezeshkian and the West did not forget. In his article, he spoke unflatteringly about Western policies. The president-elect blames the US and Europe for causing “hundreds of billions of dollars in damage” to Iran’s economy and “untold suffering, death and destruction to the Iranian people,” largely due to sanctions that have steadily tightened since the Trump administration withdrew from the nuclear deal. 2015.

“The United States and its Western allies not only squandered a historic opportunity to reduce and manage tensions in the region and the world, but also seriously undermined the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), showing that the costs of adherence to the principles of the non-proliferation regime can outweigh the benefits it can offer ” writes Pezeshkian, accusing Western powers of abusing the NPT and fabricating a crisis over Iran’s nuclear activities. However, he said Iran’s defense doctrine does not include nuclear weapons and urged the United States to learn from past failures and adjust its policies accordingly.

At the same time, M. Pezeshkian emphasizes that he is looking forward to the start of a constructive dialogue with European countries in order to direct relations in the right direction, based on the principles of mutual respect and equality. “European countries must realize,” says the president-elect, “that Iranians are a proud people whose rights and dignity can no longer be overlooked. There are many areas of cooperation that Iran and Europe can explore once the European powers come to terms with this reality and put aside the arrogant moral superiority coupled with the man-made crises that have dogged our relationship for so long. Opportunities for cooperation include economic and technological cooperation, energy security, transit routes, the environment, as well as counter-terrorism and drug trafficking, refugee crises and other areas, all of which could be pursued for the benefit of our countries. And the United States also needs to face reality and understand once and for all that Iran does not—and will not—respond to pressure.”

In his numerous statements, the new Iranian President, Dr. Pezeshkian, has repeatedly emphasized that Iran’s foreign policy is based on the principles of “dignity, wisdom and prudence”, and the formulation and implementation of this public policy is the responsibility of the President and the government. “I am committed to using all the authority granted to me and my team to achieve this overarching goal.”

Recent statements by Iranian President-elect Masoud Pezeshkian on Iran’s foreign policy indicate that he strictly adheres to the positions defended by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei on this issue. Although some media in Iran and abroad call Pezeshkian a “reformer” or “moderate”, nevertheless, in all likelihood, he can rather be classified as a centrist – pragmatist, who in his policy (in this case foreign) proceed from an assessment of realities, but at the same time, they relentlessly follow the ideology and general line of the supreme leader – the rahbar.

Of course, the essence and content of Masoud Pezeshkian’s foreign policy will appear not in his current and future statements and speeches, but in practical activities in the international arena. There’s not long to wait.

The confirmation ceremony for President-elect Masoud Pezeshkian as Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei will take place on July 28, with the participation of senior government and military officials. Masoud Pezeshkian will be sworn in as the 9th President of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the Majlis (Parliament) on July 30, 2024. Then, within 15 days, the new president must present the members of his cabinet of ministers to the Majlis, and after their approval, the government will begin its activities.