Инсайты Матвеева / Insights from Matveev

Since the promised Russian publication by the IRNA of my comment on the current visit of the President of Iran to Iraq has turned to be much shorter than the first publication in Farsi, it seems better to cite the major points from the original text.

The choice of Iraq for making the first foreign trip by the new Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reflects Tehran's desire to further strengthen positions in the Middle East, maintaining the status of a leading regional power. This happens despite the global situation, in particular, the prospects for an Iran-US rapprochement. And it is especially important for the Iranian side amidst the ongoing confrontation with Israel.

Remarkably, the foreseeable chances for a detente between Iran and the US really exist. Especially taking into account the personal ambition of Joe Biden, who doesn't want to stay in the history of his country as the weakest president. Thus, right now, the White House appears to be basically ready for a dialogue with Iran.

An Iranian response to Israel's aggressive actions, such as the murder of the Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, is still likely to follow. Since the "axis of resilience," which has been uniting Tehran-friendly states in the region remains an important component of Iran's weight as a regional power. Yet, at the same time, the Iranian leadership seems hardly ready to abandon the current doctrine of "strategic patience" in favor of a much more expensive open and large-scale conflict with Israel.

Economically, Iran is interested in implementing mutually beneficial projects with Iraq. Here, one could remember a number of regional initiatives aimed to create transport corridors. Those include the North-South corridor, coming from India to Russia through Iran and the Caspian Sea countries and an alternative "Development Road" connecting southern Iraq and the Persian Gulf to Türkiye. At the same time, Damascus is also interested in the construction of a transport route from the Mediterranean coast to Iraq via the Syrian desert (Badia).

It could be better if the above-mentioned logistics projects became complementary instead of competing with each other. Here, the current visit of the President of Iran to Iraq could serve as a new impetus to the expansion of trade and economic cooperation between the two countries. Russia in turn is interested in the implementation of multilateral and mutually beneficial initiatives on an equal basis.

In general, the agenda of Masud Pezeshkian's visit to Baghdad appears to be rather extensive and diversified. It is likely to imply the issues related to the current tense situation in the region, in particular, the war in Gaza, as well as the confrontation with Israel and ways to prevent a big war in the Middle East.

www.tgoop.com/Remarks_of_Orientalist/1657

1.2K viewsedited  Sep 11 at 13:21

Since the promised Russian publication by the IRNA of my comment on the current visit of the President of Iran to Iraq has turned to be much shorter than the first publication in Farsi, it seems better to cite the major points from the original text.

The choice of Iraq for making the first foreign trip by the new Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reflects Tehran's desire to further strengthen positions in the Middle East, maintaining the status of a leading regional power. This happens despite the global situation, in particular, the prospects for an Iran-US rapprochement. And it is especially important for the Iranian side amidst the ongoing confrontation with Israel.

Remarkably, the foreseeable chances for a detente between Iran and the US really exist. Especially taking into account the personal ambition of Joe Biden, who doesn't want to stay in the history of his country as the weakest president. Thus, right now, the White House appears to be basically ready for a dialogue with Iran.

An Iranian response to Israel's aggressive actions, such as the murder of the Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, is still likely to follow. Since the "axis of resilience," which has been uniting Tehran-friendly states in the region remains an important component of Iran's weight as a regional power. Yet, at the same time, the Iranian leadership seems hardly ready to abandon the current doctrine of "strategic patience" in favor of a much more expensive open and large-scale conflict with Israel.

Economically, Iran is interested in implementing mutually beneficial projects with Iraq. Here, one could remember a number of regional initiatives aimed to create transport corridors. Those include the North-South corridor, coming from India to Russia through Iran and the Caspian Sea countries and an alternative "Development Road" connecting southern Iraq and the Persian Gulf to Türkiye. At the same time, Damascus is also interested in the construction of a transport route from the Mediterranean coast to Iraq via the Syrian desert (Badia).

It could be better if the above-mentioned logistics projects became complementary instead of competing with each other. Here, the current visit of the President of Iran to Iraq could serve as a new impetus to the expansion of trade and economic cooperation between the two countries. Russia in turn is interested in the implementation of multilateral and mutually beneficial initiatives on an equal basis.

In general, the agenda of Masud Pezeshkian's visit to Baghdad appears to be rather extensive and diversified. It is likely to imply the issues related to the current tense situation in the region, in particular, the war in Gaza, as well as the confrontation with Israel and ways to prevent a big war in the Middle East.

BY Инсайты Матвеева / Insights from Matveev