Tehran a 'Stabilizing' Force in the Region

Iran is a “stabilizing” force in the region and has the right to develop its own military hardware, says a former foreign minister, who believes that a change in US attitude could lead to improved bilateral ties. 
Tehran has every right to enhance its defense capabilities and there is no truth in accusations that it is “destabilizing the region”, Kamal Kharrazi, the head of Iran’s Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, told Al Jazeera TV in a recent interview. 
He was referring to concerns expressed by the West about the Islamic Republic’s ballistic missile program and regional policies.   
“There are many enemies and they have all kinds of different armaments. Those who have [created] terrorist groups and tried to topple existing governments ... are the [ones] who have destabilized the region,” he said.
The senior official said Iran has tried to keep the status quo by fighting against terrorism in Iraq and Syria, therefore Iran has been a stabilizing and not a destabilizing factor.

Existing Challenges   

Asked how Iran is overcoming the challenges caused by the US withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal and the imposition of tougher sanctions, Kharrazi said US President Donald Trump’s decision to quit the agreement in May was the cause of much consternation. 
"However, the remaining signatories, including European powers, have been taking a series of steps to keep it alive despite the US exit," he added. 
France, Germany and Britain have set up a financial mechanism designed to avoid US sanctions against Iran and keep the deal—officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action—afloat. 

Through the INSTEX trade vehicle, they hope to assert European economic sovereignty in the face of Washington’s determination to impose its foreign policy on Europe.
INSTEX, which stands for Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges, would initially focus on trying to ease the flow of humanitarian supplies to Iran and is expected to expand further in the future to allow European firms to trade more freely with Iran in a range of goods, including those subject to US sanctions.
Kharrazi says the success of these efforts relies ultimately on European nations and their willingness to act independently despite American threats of penalties and sanctions.
 

US Ties 

On Tehran’s relationship with Washington and whether he sees a potential for improved dealings, the former diplomat stated that this is up to the US policymakers. 
“There is animosity between Iran and the United States. They’re using all available levers to put pressure on Iran,” he said. 
“They have to change their policies. They have to come up with a new policy. Unfortunately, the United States is trying to establish a financial imperialism. If, in the past, imperialism depended on arms and wars, today Americans are dependent on financial instruments.”  
Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has on various occasions ruled out a US-Iranian dialogue, saying that negotiations with the “untrustworthy” superpower will harm national interests. 
Tehran and Washington have not had diplomatic ties ever since the 1979 Islamic Revolution that ousted the US-backed monarchical regime. 

Regional Dialogue  

On regional tensions, particularly the Saudi-led blockade against Qatar, and how they could affect Iran, Kharrazi said Tehran is unhappy that the political impasse has persisted.  
“We are not happy with disputes [prolonging] in the region,” he said. “That does not help regional security and peace. We are ready to talk to everyone in the region, even Saudi Arabia, the UAE ... all other parties. And we believe, eventually, that is the final solution ... If we sit together and talk to each other for the benefit of the region, I believe something good will come out of that.”
Iran flew in food supplies to Qatar after Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt cut off travel and trade ties with Doha in June 2017 due to its alleged support for terrorism and close relations with Iran.
Qatar denies backing terrorism and says the boycott impinges on its sovereignty.