The breakthrough in talks with the P5+1 on Iran’s nuclear programme has opened floodgates of questions — some look forward to a more peaceful West Asia while others see the change in balance of power in the region.
However in a tête-à-tête with The Pioneer’s News Editor Swarn Kumar Anand, Iran’s Ambassador to India Gholamreza Ansari spoke about the future of the region as the West is coming to terms with “the reality”.
Mr Ambassador, we know that the US-Iran behind-the-scenes negotiations on the nuclear issue started some time in 2011, but it happened only after the new government came to power in Iran. Unlike former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who was known for his hawkish approach, President Hassan Rouhani looks more pragmatic. Is Iran going to get new status in the regionIJ
Amb: The new approach is not solely because of internal Iranian issues — sanctions, military, etc. In fact, the nuclear deal is a natural consequence of the various events in the region, which is crying for Iran’s help to solve lots of issues. Iran’s approach is constructive, cooperative. We are moving forward to remove ambiguity and introduce a completely new atmosphere for better cooperation within the countries of the region as well as those outside.
Though the deal is only about the nuclear issue, it is seen in the wider perspective. It is seen as thawing of the animosity between the US and Iran. Iran is likely to be invited for the Geneva-II negotiations on the Syrian crisis. Has the interim nuclear deal an impact on the other issues of the region as wellIJ Will Iran be taken on board for consultation on regional issuesIJ
Amb: The foremost issue for Iran and the West is the nuclear issue. It created a lot of ambiguity and skepticism about Iran. So this was the primary concern. As for taking Iran on board for negotiations on regional issues, this was not on the agenda of the nuclear deal with the P5+1. But yes, this is one of the main interests of the West. As a big, responsible and influential country in the region, we want to contribute to its development. The West Asian countries and the world would like Iran to be more proactive in solving the artificial and genuine issues of the region. And, in fact, Iran is in the position to push for peaceful and cooperative atmosphere, especially in the economic field.
When you say Iran can work for economic development of the region which is in desperate need for the same, do you have a priority list of countriesIJ
Amb: For example, Afghanistan. The country was destroyed by the US-led NATO forces, the al-Qaeda and the Taliban. Afghanistan is in urgent need of economic development and political stability. Iran will be delighted to help improve lives of the Afghan people. It is same with Iraq, which has been destroyed by both the US occupation as well as the Takfiri (a Muslim who accuses another Muslim of apostasy) terrorists. Iraq too is desperately crying out for economic support and political stability. Iran is already extending support to the democratically elected government in Iraq to improve the lives of its citizens. So there is no priority list, but we are ready to help whoever is in the pressing need and seeks our cooperation.
In the post-Nato Afghanistan, only residual US forces will be there till 2014. Iran in the past has helped America in the fight against the Taliban. As the northern and eastern Afghanistan is contiguous to your country and Iran does have some influence in that part of Afghanistan, will Iran again help the US in AfghanistanIJ
Amb: Our involvement will never be to help the Americans but it was and will be for the Afghan people and their government. We are not looking for more or less influence in the region, but we are looking for more constructive cooperation with the elected government. We want to help the Afghan leadership. We are looking forward to work with countries which are eager to help Afghanistan. India is one of the countries which is genuinely concerned with the wellbeing of the Afghan people and so we would like to cooperate with India on Afghanistan.
You say Iran will help the Afghan leadership. What if the Taliban wrest power againIJ What is Iran’s expectation and wish in AfghanistanIJ
Amb: We don’t think that people of Afghanistan will elect the Taliban to run the country. The Taliban can never win any election. Due to the bad experiences with the Taliban, their victory in the elections is next to impossible. But it’s true that anybody who is elected by the Afghan people will be respected by us.
Recently relations between America and Saudi Arabia have strained because of Obama’s approach to the crisis in the region, particularly to Assad and Iran. And this was considered to be the prime reason that Saudi Arabia refused to accept the non-permanent seat at the UNSC. Will the change in the US approach lead to new regional balance in Iran’s favourIJ
Amb: We are expecting a new regional atmosphere in which the people will have a say in their destiny. It is something new. Elections in different countries and a new democratic wave can play a very important role in the region. The role of the people will affect the political situation in West Asia, including Syria. Those countries which respect the will of the people, I think, will succeed. The governments which are resisting the will of the people will not have any room in the region any more.
All right, but I wanted to ask whether Iran is going to replace Saudi Arabia as the prominent partner of the US in West Asia and North Africa in the wake of recent developments, including the nuclear deal and America’s softening stand on AssadIJ
Amb: Iran is not replacing anybody in the region. Iran is Iran. Our strength was ignored for a long time. This was because of the propaganda by the West. They were always showing a distorted face of Iran to the international community. But nowadays, all those superpowers are getting familiar with Iran’s power, which is constructive. Therefore, we don’t need to replace Saudi Arabia or anybody else in the region. But we want, as a powerful country, better cooperation from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt and all players of the region for a more peaceful economic and political development.
Iran is expected to be called for the Geneva-II negotiations on Syria to be held in January 22 next year. As it is generally understood that Iran has been a staunch supporter of Assad, what will be Iran’s agenda vis-à-vis Assad’s regimeIJ What kind of outcome will satisfy IranIJ
Amb: If Iran is invited to Geneva-II, we will participate in the summit but without any precondition. From the beginning, we have been reiterating that the only solution to the Syrian crisis is the political solution. It took a long time for others to understand the actual situation. So it is an achievement for us. Though the Syrian people have lost a lot, at the end everybody has seen wisdom in looking for a peaceful solution. Our position has been clear — that the only party which should decide the destiny of Syria is the people of Syria. So it is obvious that if we go to Geneva-II, we will go there with this policy. How the people of Syria choose their destiny is their decision. If they want to strengthen the Assad regime, it is solely their decision. If they don’t want Assad, it is again their decision. So, we should find a mechanism to determine and introduce the will of the Syrian people.
Can the mechanism be immediate elections or referendum in Syria for a new governmentIJ
Amb: It can be. This is something which requires to be discussed. This is why we will be going to Geneva. We have a task to illustrate how we are going to find a way to introduce the will of the people.
Iraq is terribly polarised along sectarian lines. And your country wields substantial influence on the Shia majority there and also on the al-Maliki government, which has the full support of the US. Is your assistance to the Iraq government counter-productive and stoking the radical Sunni elements thereIJ
Amb: First of all, I would like to correct you and tell you that the war in Iraq is not a sectarian war as it was not instigated by the Iraqi people. The Shias and the Sunnis used to live happily together for hundreds of years without any clashes that we are witnessing now. The sectarian violence is being imposed on Iraq from outside. Who will benefit from the sectarian war — I think the Zionist regime is the main beneficiary of such type of dispute because they are trying to divert the attention of the international community from the Palestine issue.
The al-Maliki government is an elected government and everybody should respect it. The sectarian war is imposed by an outside force. The same situation is in Syria. They tried to portray it as a sectarian violence. Now we know who are involved.
But in Syria al-Qaeda cadres have infiltrated and hijacked the protest against Assad. Who is the external force in IraqIJ
Amb: Yes. The al-Qaeda is involved. They are the same people who created problems in Afghanistan, Syria, and Iraq.
But why will al-Qaeda play into Israel’s handsIJ
Amb: Because they are paid. There are some sources which are recruiting, convincing and paying them for fighting and killing the innocent people everywhere, including in the mosques, on the streets and in the markets. The fight between the Shia and the Sunni is not genuine. It is completely an artificial, political design whose ambition is to benefit the Zionist regime.
So you want to say al-Qaeda is fighting for moneyIJ
Amb: Not just money. Maybe they are justifying the killings through their ideology. But when you see the consequences of the terrorism, you cannot justify that their ideology is part of the religion. Al-Qaeda considers only its ideology is holy and rational, while they call all other ideologies as diabolic. They call all those who don’t believe in their ideology as infidel who deserve to be killed. Can you believe that Allah and His religion which is based on piety will give anyone the authority to kill the innocent peopleIJ No, certainly not. So the al-Qaeda and the Takfiri wars are not in favour of Islam, but serve Israel and benefit its security interests.
You see, all the countries welcomed the P5+1 negotiation with Iran on the nuclear issue except two-three countries, under the influence of the Takfiri and the Zionists.
But Saudi Arabia too protested against the softening of the West’s approach towards Iran.
Amb: I don’t want to name or blame any specific country.
Although in the past, India has voted with the US on resolutions against Iran, after the sanctions were imposed on Iran over the nuclear issue, India has successfully refused to succumb under the US pressure, particularly in the area of economic cooperation. What kind of future do you see for the India-Iran relationsIJ
Amb: We don’t forget history. But we learn lessons from it for a better future. We should leave aside bad memories. India has quite a good cooperation with Iran on economic front, especially during our difficult times. We will not forget it. But naturally speaking, Iran and India have got complementary economic systems. India is in desperate need of energy and Iran has plenty to offer. Iran has very good access to Afghanistan, Central Asia and the Caucasus and India is looking for the diversified markets. So Iran can work as a gateway to these regions for India. On the political front, we have a lot of common interests and convergence. For example, a stable Afghanistan and a secure Persian Gulf are in the interests of both the countries.