Tehran: Managing Director of the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) Hossein Jaberi-Ansari emphasizes the need for Iran to adopt intelligent political strategies to counter the US-Israeli “gambling” on Iran’s domestic and geopolitical conditions. Jaberi-Ansari, an experienced diplomat and foreign policy expert, discussed these issues in a recent interview with IRNA’s Diplomatic Table program.
According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Jaberi-Ansari highlighted the strategic perception held by the US and Israel, which assumes Iran is weakened in its domestic politics and changing geopolitical situation in the West Asian region. He argued that this perception is used by opponents to impose unilateral policies. Iran, he suggested, can counter this by keeping negotiation channels open with international entities and addressing the Iranian nation’s core demands: independence, freedom, and the Islamic Republic.
Responding to Western perceptions that Iran’s influence has waned since October 7, 2023, Jaberi-Ansari noted changes in Iran’s regional presence due to developments in Lebanon and Syria. Yet, he asserted that Iran’s hardware presence and influence now stretch significantly from its western regions to the Mediterranean, and from the south to Bab al-Mandab and the Red Sea. He emphasized Iran’s role in resisting Israeli expansionism and its war efforts.
Referring to the 12-day Israeli aggression against Iran, Jaberi-Ansari clarified that the ceasefire was due to Iran’s power to deter the Israeli war machine, reinforcing Iran’s soft influence in the region. He stated that without this power, such conflicts would persist, as seen in Lebanon, Gaza, and Syria.
Jaberi-Ansari stressed the importance of consolidating internal power through bridging societal gaps and strengthening ties between the government and the people. Foreign policy, he asserted, is an extension of domestic policy, relying on this state-nation bond. He cited Iran’s unwavering alliance with Syria during its crisis as a testament to this principle.
On regional relations, Jaberi-Ansari described Iran’s ties with the Persian Gulf Arab countries, especially Saudi Arabia, as positive but cautioned against assuming profound changes. He advocated for continuous dialogue to foster mutual understanding, particularly in the context of Trump’s Gaza plan, which he suggested imposes certain necessities on the US due to pressures from public opinion and international actors.
Discussing the stalled negotiations with the United States, Jaberi-Ansari acknowledged the complexity of reaching an agreement. He criticized the US for its endless demands, suggesting they widened the scope of negotiations unnecessarily. He described the US approach as deceptive, opting for confrontation by demanding unilateral concessions from Iran without reciprocity, thus complicating the negotiation process.
The ongoing negotiations and conflict, in Jaberi-Ansari’s view, have enabled Iranian decision-makers to better understand regional and global realities, shaping more effective plans to safeguard Iran’s national interests.