Iran's acting FM champions Pezeshkian's 'new' foreign policy at UN

Niloufar Goudarzi
Niloufar Goudarzi
Iran's acting foreign minister Ali Bagheri Kani speaks to delegates during a meeting of the United Nations Security Council at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, U.S., July 16, 2024.
Iran's acting foreign minister Ali Bagheri Kani speaks to delegates during a meeting of the United Nations Security Council at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, U.S., July 16, 2024.

Iran's Acting Foreign Minister, Ali Bagheri-Kani, has lauded the purported new foreign policy direction under President-elect Masoud Pezeshkian, while steadfastly defending Tehran's support for regional proxy groups.

In a statement addressing Tuesday's United Nations Security Council meeting in New York, Bagheri-Kani stated, “His Excellency, Dr. Pezeshkian, the elected President, has recently outlined his primary foreign policy strategy, which aims to open new horizons and foster friendly relations with other nations based on dialogue, cooperation, equality, and mutual respect.”

In his speech, Kani also underscored the "legitimacy" of Iran's support for "Resistance” groups in the region, portraying it as a countermeasure to the “unilateralism” of the US and Israel.

"I wish to emphasize that Iran's support and solidarity with resistance groups in the region is legitimate under international law and aims to end aggression and occupation," Kani said.

"Resistance Forces" encompasses a network of proxy entities, including Palestinian militant groups such as Hamas, the Syrian regime, the Lebanese militant organization Hezbollah, and various other factions in Yemen, Iraq and elsewhere.

Meanwhile, the cornerstones of Iran's current foreign policy—funding and supporting militia groups and advancing its nuclear program—are seen by many countries as contradicting the principles of dialogue and cooperation. This approach has led to crippling Western sanctions.

Thus, it remains to be seen how President-elect Masoud Pezeshkian's foreign policy will reconcile the paradox of advocating a "new approach" while maintaining the existing strategy.

Additionally, Pezeshkian has vowed to follow strategies and goals proclaimed by Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who has so far advocated defying the West. Any minor adjustments could indicate Khamenei's desire to adopt a more flexible approach, similar to how Khamenei allowed nuclear talks a decade ago.

These negotiations resulted in the JCPOA nuclear deal in 2015, between Iran and major global powers, including the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. As part of the agreement, Iran agreed to curtail its nuclear capabilities in return for reducing UN economic sanctions. Nevertheless, the US withdrawal from the deal in 2018 by President Donald Trump, coupled with the reimposition of stringent sanctions, severely strained diplomatic ties and debilitated Iran's economy.

Meanwhile, the current US administration has declared reluctance to resume nuclear negotiations with Tehran under the new president precisely for Iran's ongoing "support for terrorist organizations Hamas and Hezbollah".

Additionally, even in the event of an administration change in the US in November, Iran will face possibly even more pressure regarding its funding of proxy groups and its nuclear deal program.

Nikki Haley, former US Ambassador to the UN under Donald Trump, asserted on Tuesday that she attributes the instability in the Middle East to Iran. She also praised Trump's decision to withdraw from the JCPOA.

"Every problem in the Middle East can be laid at the feet of Iran. The dictators who chant Death to America are the bankrollers and weapons suppliers for Hamas and Hezbollah. They're behind barbaric massacres and the hostage-taking," the former South Carolina Governor said in her Republican National Convention speech.