President Ebrahim Raisi said his government is concentrated on restoring balance to foreign policy, with special attention to expanding relations with neighboring, friendly and aligned countries.
“Foreign policy must serve the purpose of increasing the country’s national power, and along this line, using dynamic and smart diplomacy is essential,” he said in a meeting with newly-appointed ambassadors to 11 countries on Sunday, President.ir reported.
Iran has diverse capacities which are even complementary to those of many countries, including the states where the new ambassadors are set to serve, he added.
“Use all in your power to tap into these potentials toward upgrading lasting bilateral economic and trade relations,” he told the diplomats.
Raisi also called on the representatives to use the capacities of regional organizations and unions joined by both Iran and the host country to improve mutual cooperation.
Additionally, it is expected of the ambassadors to bear in mind the instructions of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei about foreign policy, the president said.
In a meeting with a group of Iranian ambassadors and representatives earlier this year, the Leader set out action strategies based on the principles of “dignity, wisdom and expediency”.
During the meeting, Iran’s new ambassadors to Finland, Bulgaria, Kuwait, Armenia, Turkey, Mauritania, Kirgizstan, Bolivia, Australia, the Philippines and Sweden briefed the president about the special qualities of their country of mission, as well as their practical plans for the enhancing the level of ties.
Since his inauguration in August 2021, Raisi has vowed to develop “balanced and diverse” foreign relations, putting neighboring, regional, Muslim, and aligned countries on top of its agenda.
Along this line, his administration managed to restore diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia after years of estrangement in a deal brokered by China in March.
It is also eyeing normalization with Egypt, another Muslim state with which Tehran has restricted relations over political differences.
To pursue the same policy, Raisi has paid visits to Central Asian countries, including Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan.
More recently, he took a tour of Latin America, where he signed dozens of agreements with Venezuela, Nicaragua and Cuba, all of which are subject to illegitimate sanctions by the United States like Iran.
The recent tour of Persian Gulf states by Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian is also another indication of the Raisi administration’s focus on neighborly relations.
Amir-Abdollahian traveled to Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates during his tour.
He said afterwards that cooperation between Iran and countries on the southern coast of the Persian Gulf has entered “a new chapter.”
