Leader Sets Out Principles of Successful Foreign Policy

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei underlined good foreign policy and efficient diplomatic establishment as basic principles for successful management of the country, setting out six essential guidelines in this regard. 
“Application of these standards is a sign of successful foreign policy, but if not followed, it means we have problems either in the foreign policy doctrine, or in the practice of diplomacy,” he said on Saturday, in an address to a group of foreign ministry officials and ambassadors, Leader.ir reported. 
The first criterion is the ability to provide a convincing account of the logic behind the country’s approaches with regard to various issues, according to the Leader. 
It is also important to have an influential presence in different political-economic events in the world, he said. 
Efforts to stop and reduce threatening policies and decisions against Iran, weakening the sources of danger, and strengthening allied and friendly governments and groups and expanding the country’s strategic depth were among other guidelines that the Leader provided. 
The diplomatic system of the country must also have the ability to identify the hidden aspects of developments in taking regional and international decisions and measures, he said. 
Ayatollah Khamenei later highlighted three main “keywords” as reference points in foreign policy, namely “dignity, wisdom and prudence”.  
Dignity is the rejection of an “imploring diplomacy whether in words or content” and avoiding dependence on statements and decisions of other countries’ authorities, he said. 
He also stressed that lack of adherence to principles in foreign policy is a loss of dignity.
“In all global issues, in words, measures and responding to measures of others, we move on with honor and based on principles,” he said. 
The Leader described wisdom as “well-though-out and calculated behavior and speech. 
“Any measure in foreign policy should be rational and thought-out,” he said. 
Another sign of wisdom is avoiding blind trust in the other sides, the Leader said, adding, however, that not every word should be seen as a lie in the world of politics, since honest remarks also exist.  
Ayatollah Khamenei elaborated on the concept of prudence, saying it means flexibility when needed in order to get round serious obstacles and move on toward the goal. 
“Adherence to principles is in no contradiction with prudence in this sense,” he noted. 

New World Order 

The Leader later praised the current administration’s neighbor-oriented policy as a right approach. 
“Foreign elements are actively trying to create problems between Iran and its neighbors and you must not let this policy of theirs succeed,” he said. 
It is also important to pursue the policy of expanding relations with Muslim countries, whether near or far, as well as other countries that share similar stances with Iran, he added. 
Ayatollah Khamenei also pointed to the concept of change in the current world order and its repetition in global discourse, calling for careful study of international developments to find an appropriate position for Iran. 
“Transformation in the world order is a long-term process with many ups and downs which is affected by possible unpredicted incidents,” he said, pointing out that different countries have various and contradicting ideas and positions on those developments. 
In order to find a suitable place for Iran in the new world order, it is essential to monitor and assess global developments and carefully identify their hidden dimensions, the Leader said. 
“Based on these assessments, practical proposals must be outlined, for which ambassadors and diplomats, especially in influential countries, have an important role,” he said. 
He also described Iranian diplomats abroad as representatives of the people whose behavior displays the Iranian nation’s identity. 
“Iranian diplomat must be a symbol of faith, love for dear Iran, honor, determination and hard work, so that their behavior and speech would bring respect for the Iranian nation as well,” he said.