Dr. Seyed Kamal Kharazi, this afternoon in a joint panel featuring Dr. Seyed Abbas Araghchi, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Dr. Ali Akbar Salehi, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, at the National Congress on Foreign Policy held at the Center for Studies of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, responded to this question: What is the priorities of the country’s current foreign policy?

Developing Relations with Neighbors

Dr. Kharazi said: Our priority is the relations with our neighbors, as this priority is currently being implemented.
He stated that perhaps in the past this priority was not observed, emphasizing: In the past, we made some mistakes in relations with our neighbors, and some neighbors became afraid of us. For example, exporting the revolution was not something to be pursued through incorrect methods; rather, the revolution should have taken root in the hearts of others and made them defenders of the revolution.

Referring to the friendly and brotherly relations between Iran and Iraq, the President of the Council said: Now, for example, why do the people of Iraq defend the Islamic Revolution? We did not send troops to that country to export the revolution. The reason the Iraqi people defend the Islamic Revolution is that they deeply understand the value of its ideals, especially independence.

Dr. Kharazi emphasized: The priority of the foreign relations of the Islamic Republic of Iran must be its neighbors, and relations with these countries should be developed as much as possible. In addition, naturally, to preserve the country’s independence, we must stand against bullying. Just as Dr. Araghchi stated in the opening speech of this congress, we have stood against bullying since the beginning of the revolution to preserve the country’s independence.

Preserving Independence and Resisting Bullying

He added: Therefore, on the stage of foreign relations, preserving independence, resisting bullying, and developing relations with neighbors are the current priorities of our foreign policy.

The President of the Council, meanwhile, emphasized the necessity of theorizing the ideals and goals of the Islamic Revolution, stating: Theorizing the ideals and presenting methods for achieving those ideals is a challenge that persists because what is taught in our universities are theories formulated in the West and are not suited to our country’s conditions for realizing the revolution’s ideals.

The Need for Resistance in Various Arenas

In another part of his remarks on this panel regarding how to preserve the country’s identity and independence against enemies, Dr. Kharazi emphasized: Our resistance must take place across various arenas. Military resistance is one of these arenas in which the armed forces perform their duties in the best possible manner and defend the country against aggression.

The President of the Council stated: But the military arena is not the only arena of resistance. We must also resist in the arenas of foreign policy and media. This is not solely the duty of official institutions either; of course, the duty of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is to explain and defend the official positions of the country in various forums; but just as national resistance is the duty of every Iranian individual, and we have witnessed it both in the presence of the people and national solidarity during the eight-year Sacred Defense and in the recent 12-day war, it is the duty of every Iranian individual to participate in defending their country in the arenas of political, informational, media, and narrative-building.

He said: In this regard, unfortunately, we are weak. All individuals and actors who possess the necessary capability and a deep understanding of foreign policy issues must enter the arena and participate in this national defense, so that our country’s interests are adequately defended across various arenas, including in think tanks and international media.

In response to a question from one of the attendees of this session about why we are involved in extreme hostility with the United States, Dr. Kharazi said, “We did not have hostility toward America from the beginning.” Rather, we wanted to have peaceful relations with all countries. When the other side shows hostility, you are compelled to respond.

He added: If Saddam had not entered Iranian soil based on his miscalculation, we would have had no reason to enter the war either. In fact, we stood against Saddam’s aggression. Therefore, the view that there are documents suggesting the war could have been prevented is not correct.

The President of the Council said: On the contrary, there are many documents that Saddam, based on the geopolitical interests he had in mind, saw our country’s situation after the revolution as suitable to enter the war and annex parts of Iran to his territory; but of course, his calculation was wrong. He thought our army was in disarray and could not resist, but contrary to his calculations, the people came to the arena and valiantly defended the country.

Dr. Kharazi, emphasizing that reactions must be proportionate to the enemy’s hostility, said: America showed hostility towards Iran from the very first day of the victory of the Islamic Revolution, and we had to act proportionately. Of course, we may have been doing better, but in any case, one must act decisively against enemies. Like the recent 12-day war, where they bombed us, we also bombed in retaliation and stood firm.

The President of the Council concluded by saying: We must resist in various arenas, and God willing, with the presence of the people, we can achieve victory.