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Publish Date : 29 June 2016 - 17:06  ,  
News ID: 562

Strategic alignment and diplomatic convergence

TEHRAN (Basirat)- Along with many of other domestic and foreign determinants, international agreements also play a major role in determining the fate of the war as well as Iran’s interests. Therefore, Iran’ s diplomatic apparatus, after clinching a lasting nuclear deal with six world powers, both tried to keep the US neutral as much as possible and also boost its cooperation with Russia in the fields of defense and foreign policy.
Along with many of other domestic and foreign determinants, international agreements also play a major role in determining the fate of the war as well as Iran’s interests. Therefore, Iran’ s diplomatic apparatus, after clinching a lasting nuclear deal with six world powers, both tried to keep the US neutral as much as possible and also boost its cooperation with Russia in the fields of defense and foreign policy.
BY Dr. Seyedeh Motahareh Hosseini
 
Defense ministers of Iran, Russia and Syria held a meeting in the Iranian capital Tehran nearly two weeks ago during which they agreed to step up cooperation in their fight against Takfiri terror groups operating across Syria and elsewhere in the region. Russian and Syrian Defense Ministers, Sergei Shoigu and Fahd Jassem al-Freij, participated in the event at the official invitation of Iran’s Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan. A coordinated manner was adopted to fight terrorism which could play a major role in the future of Syria’s ongoing foreign-backed civil war. The developments that are taking place in Syria’s today battlefield are results of that meeting. The Syrian army is scoring gains against terrorists smoothly and on a steady rhythm.

The advances are taking place with the reduction of the DaeshTakfiri group’s sway in the region and improvement of the morale and military capability of its opponents. There is also an international resolve, like Turkey’s joining the anti-Daesh campaign, which is helping combat the terror group. Operations and moves by Daesh opponents particularly the Syrian government, the Kurds, the US-led coalition, Russia, and regional powers have yielded results and some swathes of the Syrian territory have been so far freed or are on the verge of liberation.

It seems that some explicit and implicit inhibiting factors in the region, which have been behind Daesh’s rise and expansion, no longer back the terrorist group and that it cannot continue with its intimidation policy without the financing and logistical support of certain regimes and countries. Amid a war that the terrorist group is suffering heavy casualties and the Syrian army is gaining major advances, other forces involved in the conflict are mulling over the division of profits.

Since the beginning of the conflict in Syria in 2011, The Turkish government has been seeking to seize control over the Arab country’s Kurdish-populated areas and cede them to its own soil. Now, they have come to realize that their interests lie in launching an anti-Daesh campaign. However, contradictions in Ankara’s foreign policy as well as war policy may hold Turkey back to achieve its regional and international interests; its losses in this case may be more than its gains. Therefore, the disruption of Turkey’s regional policy with its most strategic neighbors i.e. Iran and Russia and above all its tensions with the Kurds have involved Ankara in a lose-lose situation in Syria.

The Islamic Republic of Iran and Iraq are the two regional countries which the Syrian crisis has had a significant impact on their interests in a way that it has pushed them on the frontline of the fight against terrorism. As a result, Iraq and its Kurdistan region are involved in direct fight with Daesh and the conflict is going on inside their borders and on their soil. Iran remains vigilant so that the conflict would not reach its borders. Therefore, the Islamic Republic has endeavored, through a mixture of military, international, regional and domestic policies, to direct the fight in an efficient way so that it does not endanger its interests and soil.
 Accordingly, one of the greatest achievements of the Islamic Republic has been its support for the forces fighting against Daesh in its neighboring countries grappled with terrorism in an attempt to prevent their deterioration and decline. In fact, Iran has thrown its weight behind these countries to both protect their sovereignty and stability and contain Daesh’s spillover effect on its borders. The Islamic Republic has also attempted to generate a favorable and neutral atmosphere with respect to its policies toward the ongoing crisis in the Arab country by adopting a smart regional and international policy.
There is no serious and apparent enmity toward Iran’s moves. It has managed to, through global interaction and cooperation, prepare the ground for the removal of anti-Tehran sanctions after years and amid the ongoing clashes in the region.

However, along with many of other domestic and foreign determinants, international agreements also play a major role in determining the fate of the war as well as Iran’s interests. Therefore, Iran’ s diplomatic apparatus, after clinching a lasting nuclear deal with six world powers, both tried to keep the US neutral as much as possible and also boost its cooperation with Russia in the fields of defense and foreign policy. Iran avoids any kind of political and military confrontation with hegemonic powers given the sensitive situation in the region.

Preventing the formation of a US-Russia joint coalition and standing in the way of such a coalition, particularly after joint defense meetings between Washington and Moscow, is one of the most important goals of Iran, which can help safeguard its interests to the utmost. Accordingly, Iran has been looking forward to stop the creation of such a coalition, one that might turn a blind eye on its own and Syria’s interests.


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