Fereydoun Majlesi in an interview with Iranian Journal of International Relations
Fereydoun Majlesi, a prominent analyst on politics and International Relations and a former diplomat and journalist of our country, in an interview with the Iranian Journal of International Relations, on foreign policy and the Joe Biden administration’s approach to the issue of Arab-Israeli peace, Deal of the Century, and Abraham Accords declared that in general, each state’s foreign policy is organized on the basis of the priority of national interests and the keeping international peace and security, and the maintenance of international peace and security, in terms of repelling losses and evil, is in line with securing the national interest. According to this veteran diplomat of our country, in power politics, the protection of national interests is ensured, which would be less than national rights (oppression and defeat) in some circumstances, and more than national rights (domination) in some others. In Fereydoun Majlisi’s belief, the centrality of power in politics does not mean lawlessness. The national interest calls upon the policy based on international law, the principles and decisions of important institutions, such as UN Security Council Resolutions.
He continued that after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the unipolarity of the world, American politicians may have been pleased with the role of the lord of the world and the sense of domination. But on the one hand, this international authority is costly for the United States, and on the other hand, it has been awakened by revitalizing and awakening quiescent poles such as China, Russia, India, and even Brazil, and also by the competition with Europe, while maintaining security and political alignment. As Fereydoun Majlesi believes, considering the costs, Trump, despite being unprofessional, realized the risk of increasing expenses over us capabilities from his businesslike perspective and tried to pass the buck to NATO and Arab allies, whom he said to have US supports. But Trump wanted to continue being unilateral super power at the expense of others. Regarding Biden's approach, Fereydoun Majlisi stated that Biden's professional approach is based on understanding the end of the unilateral era of superpower. Meanwhile, like Trump, he has realized the cost more than the benefit of this role and the exacerbation of competition, and due to this reason, he is seriously seeking to cut back on the presence and military expenses abroad and to modernize and increase domestic welfare. Considering the Arab-Israeli peace, the Islamic Republic's threats against Israel, on the one hand, and the Arabs' fear of Shiite domination and confrontation with Iran's proxy fighters on the other hand, in addition to the Arab economic development which led to avoid spending money on hostility to Israel, encouraged them to accept the peace deal with Israel which was an important achievement for Trump and the United States, and it is assumed that Arabs want to preserve it by avoiding costly long-standing slogans. Biden also sees these Peace Agreements in his favor and will gladly seek to continue it and to have other Arab states to join this.
Regarding the future of the Middle East conflicts after the US withdrawal from the region and the Biden administration’s plan for a Middle East without America, Professor Fereydoun Majlisi said that, in my opinion, while supporting Israel’s survival and being loyal to defend it within its national interests, the US can only assure the existence of Israel, which despite claims by regional rivals, its borders are formalized under Security Council Resolutions and Peace Agreements with neighbors and international law, and the United States is not willing to pay for the costs of Israeli adventures, its settlements, and declaring annexation of some parts and cause its Arab customers hostility. Fereydoun Majlisi further emphasized that, of course, the continuation of Iran's costly proxy war game, in the eyes of the United States is only erosive and debilitating for Iran and is not to the detriment of the United States. According to Fereydoun Majlesi, the US also tries not to involve the Islamic Republic in Afghanistan, where Iran is usually more beneficiary than others. In the case of Afghanistan, according to Biden's pre-presidential views, it is likely to divide the country into Pashtun cultural and racial divisions in the hands of the controllable Taliban, and Dari and Uzbek with minimal Iranian influence.
This prominent analyst and veteran diplomat of our country stated in the end that, in my opinion, Iran's detriments in isolation and even the lack of a stable relationship and a doubtful and fearful relationship with its neighbors, do not justify Iran's extraterritorial and sanctions-making measures and will be adjusted in the future. National interests require Iran to be able to restore its banking and foreign trade independence by withdrawing from war and isolation, and to enjoy the relative advantages of its natural and human resources, suitable economic and industrial infrastructure, and its oil and gas sub-industries for the excellence and welfare of its afflicted nation.
