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President Raisi arrived in Ashgabat on Saturday to attend the 15th Economic Cooperation Organization summit. Later that day, he met with his Turkmen counterpart, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow.

The two sides discussed developing bilateral relations and increasing the level of trade between the two countries during the meeting.

On Sunday, Raisi spent a busy day, meeting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Azeri and Pakistani counterparts.

During the meeting, Raisi said that Iran and Turkey can bring economic and political relations closer to the strategic level by improving the current level of trade exchanges.

Referring to the wide and diverse areas of cooperation between Iran and Turkey in various sectors, including energy, banking and monetary issues, and trade and commerce exchanges, Raisi said, “We should facilitate the development of economic relations and in this regard, preferential tariffs can be reviewed.”

Emphasizing the close cooperation and relations between Iran, the Republic of Azerbaijan and Turkey, the president said that the three countries have many cultural, religious and ideological affinities, and these relations should not be allowed to be disrupted. Instead, Raisi suggested, relations should be as close as possible to disappoint the common enemies.

Further, he touched upon the Afghanistan issue, saying, “Terrorist groups not only cause insecurity in Afghanistan but also threaten the security of the region, so we should not allow terrorist groups such as Daesh (ISIS) and the PKK to threaten the security of countries in the region.”

The president added that Iran supports the formation of an inclusive government in Afghanistan.

“We believe that all groups and ethnicities of Afghanistan should have a role and participation in the future of Afghanistan,” he elaborated.

Referring to the establishment of stability and security in Syria, Raisi said, “We should use our capacities to create peace and security in Syria.”

For his part, Erdogan said that his country considers it necessary to develop and strengthen bilateral and regional cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran.

“We can make a leap in the relations between the two countries, especially in the economic sectors,” Erdogan said.

“The White House is training and arming all terrorist groups in the region, including ISIS and the PKK, and providing them with terrorist equipment and tools to create insecurity,” he said.

Erdogan added that Iran, Russia and Turkey can maintain security and stability in the region with the cooperation of other countries in the region.

Iran, Azerbaijan sign deal that allows Turkmenistan to swap gas with Azerbaijan 

Later in the day, Raisi met the Azerbaijani President, Ilham Aliyev.

After the meeting ended, Iran and Azerbaijan signed a deal that allowed Turkmenistan to swap gas with Azerbaijan, using the Iranian territory.

The agreement was signed with the presence of ministers of oil of Iran and Azerbaijan in Ashgabat on the sidelines of the 15th Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) summit.

According to the agreement, Turkmenistan will export one and a half to 2 billion cubic meters of gas to the Republic of Azerbaijan through the territory of Iran.

The agreement also made Turkmenistan sell 5 to 6 million cubic meters of gas a day to the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Iran will withdraw its required gas consumption in five northern provinces of the country as the right for transfer the gas.

In this regard, Iranian Foreign Minister Amir Abdollahian also met with his Azeri counterpart, Jeyhun Bayramov.

During the meeting, Amir Abdollahian hailed as important cooperation at various political, economic, cultural areas as well at the level of officials, including presidents, foreign ministers, etc.

He lauded Azeri Deputy PM and Chairman of the Joint Commission’s visit to Iran.

Iran’s top diplomat described the meeting between Iran and Azerbaijan officials as indicating the right path of diplomacy.

He also congratulated Azerbaijan’s membership in the UNESCO Executive Board and stressed the importance of developing international cooperation.

These developments come at a time as Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri is in Vienna to discuss ways to remove the sanctions imposed by the United States on Iran.

This shows that Iran has changed direction, and is now focusing on a balanced foreign policy. Relying solely on the West is not on the agenda of the Foreign Ministry anymore.

As Amir Abdollahian explained in his 100-day report on November 27, Iran is seeking to pursue an “Asia-oriented” foreign policy, with particular emphasis on neighbors.

It also sends the message that Iran is past the “unwanted” tension with Azerbaijan, as Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh put it in his press briefing on November 22.

Truly, a new day has come.

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Since the victory of Raisi in the June presidential elections, officials, from Raisi himself to other members of his cabinet, have drawn the path of foreign policy with their continuous stances, a route that passes through neighboring countries and the region instead of the West, IRNA reported.

In his remarks, Raisi has always emphasized resolving the region’s crises and problems through dialogue, stating that his administration’s foreign policy priority is to improve relations with neighbors. This strategy of the current administration in the field of foreign policy can be clearly seen during the inauguration of Raisi as president.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran considers neighboring countries and nations as its ‘relatives’ and considers it the most important and main priority of its foreign policy to promote relations with neighboring countries and wants their dignity and respect,” the president emphasized.

A few days after the new administration in Iran started its work, the “Regional Summit in Support of Iraq” was also held. The meeting was attended by nine countries. It was attended by Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar, UAE, Kuwait, Turkey and France.

“What we need more than ever today is” sustainable regional security “with the participation of the countries of the region,” said Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian at the summit in Baghdad on August 28. “Security can only be achieved through mutual trust between the countries of the region, reliance on national capabilities, strengthening communication and good neighborliness, and non-interference by foreign countries.”

Iran has so far shown in practice that deepening cooperation with neighboring countries and the region is a priority. Partnerships will pave the way for regional security and lead to stability and security in the Middle East. At the same time, they could help end the presence of American and European forces in West Asia, particularly in the Persian Gulf.

Regarding Iran’s cooperation with Iraq which has now become the center of regional convergence, it should be noted that in recent years trade between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Iraq has reached more than $12 billion. The existence of eight active border crossings between the two countries and the continuation of trade exchanges in these crossings, even despite the outbreak of the coronavirus, indicate the economic entanglement of the two countries.

In addition, Iran has made a significant contribution to the development of Iraq’s economic and trade relations in recent years by exporting technical and engineering services, gas and electricity to the country. Meanwhile, the Islamic Republic has spared no effort to help Iraq in the fight against terrorism.

Evidence shows that Iran and other Arab countries in the region are determined to improve relations, and that their strong will has led them to come together in Baghdad. Undoubtedly, this can herald optimism about resolving differences and healing rifts between the countries of the region if there is a will on the part of each side.

The resumption of Iran-Saudi Arabia talks through Iraq’s mediation is also a positive sign that bodes well for regional cooperation.

Following the summit, Iran’s ambassador to Iraq, Iraj Masjedi, announced that a fourth round of talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia would be held.

“Through the cooperation of the Iraqi government, we held three rounds of talks with Saudi Arabia in Baghdad, and the fourth round will be held following the formation of the new Iranian administration,” he said at the Iraqi Rafidan Dialogue Center on regional relations and Iraq’s role in bringing Iran and Saudi Arabia closer together.

Prior to the Baghdad summit there were speculations about possible formal talks between Iranian and Saudi officials. However, this did not happen.

A few days after the meeting, however, Iran’s foreign minister announced in a televised interview that he had a brief conversation with the Saudi foreign minister on the sidelines of the Baghdad summit.

“I had a dialogue with the Saudi foreign minister at this summit. The Saudi side also congratulated and pointed out that with the formation of the new administration, we will start our relations with Iran, but no negotiations were held with the Saudis during this trip and summit,” Abdollahian said.

Some observers believe that the failed experience of trusting the West during these years is one of the reasons why the Raisi administration tends to have better ties with neighbors and regional states.

In particular, in his recent remarks the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei criticized the Rouhani administration’s inclination toward the West.

The Leader said on August 18 that “wherever you have made your work dependent on the West, you have failed. In this administration, it turned out that trust in the West does not work. Wherever you left things to the West and negotiation with it and the United States, you failed.”

Experts believe that the Raisi administration will have a different view of international affairs and foreign policy than the previous administration. Therefore, the Raisi administration, while paying attention to neighboring countries and the region, pays special attention to the 25-year strategic partnership with China, as well as the 20-year comprehensive cooperation with Russia. The Raisi administration is also expected to have a look on emerging powers such as Brazil, India and South Africa.

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In remarks at a press conference on Monday, Seyed Abbas Mousavi hailed the improvement of regional cooperation between Iran and the Persian Gulf littoral states after the outbreak of coronavirus.

Apart from the threats that the novel coronavirus poses to the entire world, it has resulted in a series of favorable events and opened up opportunities as well, he said, adding that the outbreak has brought the stances and priorities of the countries closer together to some extent.

“We are witnessing streaks of shifting priorities and orientations in our region,” Mousavi stated.

“We have expressed readiness for dialogue with our friends in the region without preconditions,” the spokesman said, stressing that Iran is prepared for talks and interaction with the Persian Gulf littoral states.

Mousavi also stated that Iran has already proposed a regional peace initiative, known as the Hormuz Peace Endeavor (HOPE), and is still waiting to see readiness on part of the Persian Gulf countries for cooperation.

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TEHRAN (Iran News) – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif stressed if the coronavirus pandemic fails to stop melancholy in politics and irresponsible unilateralism, the world and its moral values will fail again.

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“In line with the humanitarian measures, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs made efforts to transfer the foreign nationals to their respective countries, and as a result of these measures and frequent coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman, the first group of Bahraini citizens left for their country this morning,” Mousavi said on Tuesday.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran offers special gratitude to the government of Oman, praises that country’s humanitarian approach to cooperation and its determination to perform such a humanitarian task, and hopes that positive interaction on part of the Bahraini government and continuation of this process would allow other Bahraini citizens in Iran to return to their homeland according to the schedule,” he added.

Last week, the spokesman had criticized the Bahraini government’s irresponsible behavior towards its citizens stranded in Iran.

“While many regional countries took action to take back their citizens in cooperation with our country’s officials, sadly the government of Bahrain has not done anything to take back its citizens despite the readiness of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran for cooperation, and has not either accepted the proposals put forward by certain parties,” Mousavi said on March 4.

“At present, around 1,300 Bahraini citizens who have come to Iran for pilgrimage and tourism have had to have a long and unwanted stay in Iran because the Bahraini government has neglected to address their situation,” he had announced.

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“The companies which left Iran have lost a market that cannot retake easily,” ISNA quoted Araghchi as saying on Sunday.

He added that Iran will not forget the countries’ behavior in difficult times.

Samsung and its fellow South Korean company LG Electronics – for which Iran has been a key market in the Middle East – reportedly pulled down their last advertisement banners in Iran on Friday.

The two companies had cut their trade relations with Tehran in the past months, submitting to U.S. sanctions imposed on Iran after Washington withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi tweeted on Friday, “Some foreign companies, which have left Iran in recent years and months submitting to the U.S. bullying, should know that returning to the Iranian market will be very difficult.”

According to trade principles, keeping one’s foothold in a country’s market is harder than entering it, he said.

In his post, Mousavi also attached a photo of workers removing a banner of the South Korean company Samsung in Iran.

U.S. President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the U.S. from the multilateral 2015 nuclear deal in May 2018 and introduced the harshest ever sanctions against Iran under his officially stated “maximum pressure” strategy.

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TEHRAN (Iran News) – European Union governments need to be willing to intervene in international crises or risk prolonging paralysis in their foreign policy, the EU’s top diplomat Josep Borrell said on Sunday.

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