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“Israel Directly Involved in Killing Iranian Military Advisors in Syria”

June 2, 2018

Signs of US Decline Clearer Than Ever: Iran Official

Shamkhani, the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, made the comment in an interview with Al Alam News Network.

“The Israeli regime took direct actions to assassinate [Iranian] nuclear scientists, produce the Stuxnet [computer] virus, and kill our [military] advisors in Syria,” said Shamkhani.

He said Israel is a “sworn enemy” of the Islamic Republic of Iran and has overtly threatened to take military action against the country over the past 40 years.

The senior official underlined the Israeli regime has also supported dissident and terrorist groups as well as the former Iraqi strongman Saddam Hussein’s regime.

“Israel’s hostile approach towards Iran has always been there,” said Shamkhani.

The official then touched upon Tel Aviv’s ratcheting up its anti-Iran rhetoric, so much so that its verbal threat against Tehran has turned into a marked threat.

“I believe the change in the tone of [the language used by] the Israeli regime’s officials is due to their frustration resulting from back-to-back defeats and failures on different fronts,” he said.

He underlined that terrorism contributed heavily to Israel’s security.

“The emergence of Takfiri terrorism in the region, bloodshed on the frontiers of the Muslim world, together with the destruction of important parts of the economic and military infrastructure of Islamic countries resulted in … golden years for Israel’s security,” Shamkhani noted.

“Now, with Takfiri terrorists being defeated in Syria and Iraq, for which Israel partly blames Iran, this golden period has come to an end, and Palestine has turned into the Muslim world’s most pressing issue once again,” he noted.

He said Iran will do whatever it takes to ensure its security.

“We will vigilantly take whatever actions and measures necessary to ensure Iran’s interests and security against any aggressor,” he said.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the top official touched upon Syria’s missile attack which came in response to Tel Aviv’s strikes.

“Over the past 25 years, the Zionist regime had not received any proper response to its acts of aggression such as its strikes against Syrian and Iraqi nuclear facilities, its attack on the Turkish ship MV Mavi Marmara, and shooting down an Egyptian plane,” said Shamkhani.

“Today, the Syrian army and government have such high self-confidence and power that they can shoot down the aircraft of the Israeli regime, hit its missiles in the sky and, thanks to intelligence operations, target and destroy key military sites of this regime in retaliatory operations immediately after Israeli aggression,” he noted.

“The Arab world and Islamic world take pride in this,” he said.

He said the Syrian missile attack also had the message that the “hit-and-run” era is over, and the Israeli regime should be answerable for its behaviour.

“This power and capability is the achievement of the axis of resistance and has created a new level of balance of power in the region,” he said.

Shamkhani then referred to Russia’s plan for Syrian army troops to be stationed on the border with Jordan.

“We strongly back Russia’s efforts to drive out terrorists from the Syria-Jordan border and to get the Syrian army to gain control of the border area,” he said.

“We regard this move as a positive step toward the Syrian government’s further control over the territories occupied by terrorist groups,” he said.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Shamkhani touched upon the victories of Syrian troops in their operations.

He said the back-to-back gains made by the Syrian army and popular forces on different fronts led to the full liberation of territories in the south of the country as well as the Rif Dimashq Governorate.

“With this new equation, an important part of the Syrian army units stationed in the south of the country can be redeployed to purge the remnants of terrorist elements from the north of the country and to counter the Israeli regime’s attacks,” he said.

“Therefore, the recent gains on the ground in Syria will have a strategic impact on security equations in the future,” the top official noted.

He further reiterated that Iranian military advisors have a limited presence in Syria at the request of the Syrian government to help in the fight against terrorism.

“Our advisory assistance will continue as long as the Syrian government asks us to do so,” he said.

He stressed that Iran regards the security of Syria as its own, and hence, the maintenance of stability in that country is an accomplishment for Iran as well.

Tehran’s Milad Tower Hosting Ramadan Festival

Fatemeh Askarieh

June 2, 2018

The festival began on May 17 with various programs from Iftar to Suhoor in the iconic tower, and would continue until the end of Ramadan.

Ali Darvishpour, the tower’s managing director, says Ramadan programs began with sighting of the crescent moon from the highest point of Tehran with the presence of astronomers and professional observers at a height of 292 metres, and continue with diverse programs in the cultural and social spheres until the end of the holy month.

Darvishpour also added that the Holy Quran will be written by famous calligraphers during the festival while some others would recite Quran verses in especial circles.

“Religious gatherings next to serving simple Iftar foods are among other programs being performed in the Milad Tower.”

He went on to say that on the western side of the Tower, in the vicinity of the Zipper Line and Suspension Bridge, there are happy and vibrant games such as bungee jumping and trampoline.

A special area has also been designated for kids and young adults to play, enjoy and have fun on the eastern side of Milad tower.

In another part of the festival, Iranian tribes have been offered an opportunity to present their arts, crafts, and lifestyles in so-called Tribal Homes.

The homes are open to visitors in the outskirts of the Milad Tower to give a chance to the lovers of the Iranian culture, technology and lifestyle to see such traditions in person.

During this festival, a flower and plant exhibition is also held to promote a different look at apartment life and the maintenance of apartment flowers. The exhibition presents herbs, as well as traditional medicines.

Meanwhile, in the gardens of the Milad Tower, with the aim of protecting domestic production, a number of Iranian items and products are introduced.

These goods are generally healthy and the purpose of their introduction is to make people aware of the culture of enjoying healthy foods, and to strive to change lifestyles towards the use of healthy and harmless foods.

What follows are Tasnim and IRNA’s photos of the festival:

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Signing LC Deal to Help Expand Iran-Italy Relations: Rouhani

IFP Editorial Staff

June 2, 2018

In a Saturday letter to his Italian counterpart Sergio Mattarella, Rouhani offered congratulations to the Italian nation and government on the country’s National Day and Republic Day.

“Maintaining constructive interaction and deepening relations with Italy, as a friend and important country in the European Union, based on mutual respect and interests, has been a priority of the Islamic Republic of Iran in recent years,” the Iranian president noted.

“Fortunately, under this policy, relations between the two countries in various fields have been growing and I am confident that by signing the agreement of line of credit, the path to operationalisation of documents signed between the two countries will be facilitated and accelerated,” he added.

He finally wished health and success for his counterpart and prosperity and felicity for the people of the Italian Republic.

Festa della Repubblica (Republic Day) is the Italian National Day and Republic Day, which is celebrated on 2 June each year. The day commemorates the institutional referendum held by universal suffrage in 1946, in which the Italian people were called to the polls to decide on the form of government, following the Second World War and the fall of Fascism.

With 12,717,923 votes for a republic and 10,719,284 for the monarchy, the male descendants of the House of Savoy were sent into exile.

“Support for Palestine Root Cause of West’s Problems with Iran”

IFP Editorial Staff

June 2, 2018

The US withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal, which placed confidence-building curbs on Tehran’s nuclear program, once again proved that the US claim Iran is secretly developing nukes is only a pretext to place pressure on Iran, Larijani said on Saturday.

The top lawmaker said the main problem of the US with Iran is our tireless support for the Palestinian cause, he was quoted as saying in a report by ICANA.

“[During a round of nuclear talks] I asked the other side what is your problem with us when you know we are not after nuclear weapons? He replied the real problem lies in Iran’s support for Palestine, which does not allow the US to carry out its plans in the region,” said Larijani, a top nuclear negotiator in early 2000s.

Iran has been steadfast in its opposition to Israel since the 1979 Revolution, demanding an end to the decades-long occupation of the Palestinian lands.

Shortly after the Revolution, the Islamic Republic’s founder Ayatollah Rohullah Khomeini singled out the two main enemies of Iran: the US as the “great Satan” and Israel as the “little Satan”.

He further noted that the long-standing US animosity towards Tehran also has its origins in the 1979 Islamic Revolution that toppled the rule of the US-backed Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi

“The adventurous policy of the US is rooted in the revolutionary move of 15 Khordad that led to Iran’s independence,” Ali Larijani said.

The uprising is known to be the starting point of a revolution that replaced the Shah monarchy with the Islamic Republic.

Larijani made the remarks in an address to a gathering of people on the eve of the anniversary of the 1963 anti-Shah demonstrations, known as 15 Khordad Uprising.

US Opposed to Anti-Terror Efforts

Larijani further referred to the recent remarks made by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and said the main focus of US demands is Iran’s regional presence, because Iran’s anti-terror efforts in Iraq and Syria have disrupted their plans.

The top lawmaker said the US created ISIS to destabilise the region and prepare the ground for carrying out its plots to topple its enemies, but the collapse of the so-called caliphate set up by ISIS rendered those plans unsuccessful.

“They didn’t want us to engage in anti-terror efforts in the region, so that they can foment insecurity in the region and … block Iran’s path to development,” he said.

The lawmaker was speaking at a time of heightened tensions between Iran and the US.

The US administration, which has hardened Washington’s line on Iran, has threatened to impose the “strongest sanctions in history” against Iran that would ultimately destroy the country’s economy unless it capitulate to a series of 12 “basic requirements”.

Among other conditions, the list asks Tehran to halt missile development, stop what the US claims are Iran’s interventions in the affairs of Iraq, Syria and Yemen and cease support for groups which the US considers terrorist but Iran sees as legitimate resistance forces.

Economic War in the Making

Larijani said the us threats of imposing unprecedented sanctions on Iran shows the US hopes an economic war could make Iranian people dissatisfied with their conditions and weaken Iran’s resolve.

The lawmaker said Iran should work to boost domestic production and make the economy invulnerable to US pressure.

“We face a hard path [to stand against US pressures], but the gains will be outstanding,” Larijani said.

Hormuz Island: Treasure Trove of Natural Beauty, Ancient Culture

IFP Editorial Staff

June 1, 2018

Jamshid Bayrami is a renowned Iranian photographer. His most fantastic pictures are the ones he took in 2001 of Mecca; from places inside the shrine where taking photos were forbidden.

He is now determined to stage arts festivals in Hormozgan province in southern Iran; particularly in the unique island of Hormuz with its colourful and even edible soil.

In an interview, he told Shargh newspaper about artistic activities on Hormuz Island.

Why did you choose Hormuz Island?

I’m a photographer and I can say with certainty that I have seen most parts of Iran. When I visited Hormuz Island, I noticed how pristine and picturesque it was. From then on, I travelled to the island every year.

Gradually, I came to realize that the island was shrinking! I mean the architecture, nature and the climate of living there were diminishing and becoming smaller day by day!

What features does Hormuz Island have?

Hormuz Island is home to several natural and God-given treasures. First, it has red soil mines. It takes a century for one centimetre of this type of soil to be formed.

Unfortunately, more than 15,000 tonnes of the red soil in Hormuz have been sold so far, and it cannot be retrieved even if you pay a hundred times [the price].

Really? They keep selling the soil?

Fortunately, the mine is closed now, and I hope it will remain closed forever. The red soil mine belongs not only to 80 million Iranians, but to the world’s natural heritage.

The island’s second treasure is its colourful mountains. Jerry Pawlak of Poland visited Hormuz Island 50 years ago. He said it looks like God coloured the whole world before coming to Hormuz Island and putting his palette there!

I don’t know exactly why the soil is red. But interesting enough, it is the only edible soil in the world. Locals cook a kind of bread called Tomshi. They sprinkle the red soil on it like sumac and eat it.

You mean it has therapeutic effects?

Yes. I have been eating this bread as food for five months now. What is interesting is that locals’ physical strength comes from their soil and water, i.e. one of the most organic types of life in the world. They eat fish and soil.

Hormuz Island’s third treasure is its beaches. A crystal-looking beach stands out in the middle of its cream and grey-coloured seaside and shines at night.

The island’s fourth asset is its history. Historically speaking, the island was the hub of trade for East Asia and even Africa and Europe around 500 years ago. Then the Portuguese attacked and captured the island and practiced banditry for 200 years. The castle built by the Portuguese on the island still stands.

After all, do you know why National Persian Gulf Day was named so? Because it was the day Iranians retook Hormuz Island from the Portuguese.

Now, what things are you going to do on the island?

I’ve been living on Hormuz Island for five months now. I have been working as an advisor on the project. Last year, I drew up a plan on the revival of the island. The plan details what should be done to bring the island back to life. The provincial governor approved my plan and asked me to manage the project. Then we picked a team to execute the plan and began the artistic supervision work.

Based on the plan, I suggested the ancient quarter of the island, which is part of the heritage of the human community, be saved first. They had initially covered the walls in black cement; and the streets were littered with earth and rocks.

If you scrape the black cement off the walls, you will see white cement under. Islands in the Mediterranean Sea such as Greece are all white. The walls are made of coral. However, instead of protecting the coral walls, they have coated them with thousands of tonnes of concrete. It was a mistake, and we rectified it.

I replaced all the rusty iron-made doors with wooden ones. I had the floor covered with yellow-coloured mud bricks, and had red Bougainvillea flowers planted in front of houses. The only tree on the island which stands out from the rest has red Bougainvillea flowers.

In other words, we had everything associated with locals’ identity revived, and we breathed fresh life into the island’s beauty. During the war [with Iraq in the 1980s], the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) had built fortifications with cement blocks, which were used as shelters. Everybody proposed the structures be demolished, but we didn’t destroy them. Rather, we changed their function and turned them into the first “book café.”

We have announced that we welcome anybody who would like to help explore Hormuz Island. A whole lot of young people from across Iran have announced their readiness. Hormuz Island openly embraces everyone, but one poit worries me.

I announced that travelers who visit the island as tourists are most welcome; however we kindly requested them to wear Iranian-style clothes, not Western ones. For example, some girls who visit the island have dyed their hair red and blue, have torn trousers on and wear rings on their noses, which is not Iranian.

If you are coming to Hormuz, respect its traditions and customs and do not Westernize the island’s culture. Instead of imitating Westerners, wear the Bandari clothes (an outfit that locals wear in southern Iran). I wish girls visiting the island would, one day, come here wearing Bandari clothes.

How much are local women’s clothes?

From 3,000,000 to 10,000,000 rials.

What artistic activities are going to be done in Hormuz?

There are three cultural sections.

First, a film and photo festival with the subject of “the sea.”

Second, opening a local music festival on the Hormuz Island.

Third, a seafood festival.

The first day, I began work with four people. First, I tried to spot local artists on the island. There is an old woman on the island called “Aunt Kaniz” who draws paintings.

An exhibition of her works opens in Tehran on August 31, 2018 before being staged in New York. “Daddy Mohsen” is another artist who I call “Daddy Picasso.”

He has three rooms. One of them has white walls on which he has portrayed all the problems of his life. He and Aunt Kaniz will hold a joint exhibition in Tehran.

Can Hormuz be registered internationally like the city of Yazd?

Yes, it is possible. Many German and French tourists come to Hormuz and spend a lot of money there. It is interesting to know that when they visit Hormuz, they forget other cities. They sometimes leave with sadness, hoping to come back again, soon.

Iranian Artist Makes Beautiful Artifacts Out of Stones

IFP Editorial Staff

June 1, 2018

The objects include samovar, glasses, mortar and pestle, sugar bowl and Dizi (stoneware for cooking Iranian traditional dish Abgoosht).

Here are photos of this man’s artefacts retrieved from Mizan News Agency:

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President Rouhani Stresses National Unity in Speech Boycotted by “Demagogues”

IFP Editorial Staff

June 1, 2018

Hassan Rouhani made the comment in a meeting at fast-breaking time with a group of artists, including stars of stage and screen, as well as cultural figures.
The ceremony turned into a controversial one after a number of celebrities, who had strongly supported Rouhani last year, declined an invitation to attend it over what they called Rouhani’s failure to fulfill his campaign promises and the dire economic conditions of Iranian people.

“All material powers are limited, except one power which is very strong and invincible,” Rouhani said.

“Anyone, in any capacity and position, has specific, certain and limited capabilities, but the power which can claim final and complete victory is a united and integrated nation, which will never suffer defeat,” President Rouhani noted.

“Although the president of a country and even the powerful army of a country may be defeated under certain circumstances, if a nation maintains its unity and solidarity and relies on resistance, it will never be defeated; of course, such a nation may pay a heavy price on its path, but a united and integrated nation will definitely emerge victorious,” President Rouhani underscored.

He then touched upon the resistance of the Iraqi nation against terrorism.

“If the Iraqi nation hadn’t stood up to the ISIS terror group, which knew nothing but superstition, violence, bloodshed and killing people, today ISIS terrorists would be in control of Iraq and would destroy not only worship and religious sites, but also all other possessions of this great nation,” the president noted.
“As a result of this resistance, the Iraqi nation is the great victor in the region today, and they held a glorious election the result of which bears witness to the Iraqi nation’s independence and resistance, a nation which showed it will not be swayed by super powers,” said the president.

Elsewhere in his remarks, president Rouhani touched upon the anti-Iran stances adopted by certain countries.

He said some superpowers as well as Middle East states are making inappropriate comments about Iran.

The president underlined that most countries, in the past, would say that Iran is not right, but the situation has changed today.

“Today, most countries, except a few, admit that Iran is right, and this is an honour that will go down in history for us,” he said.

President Rouhani also referred to the Iran nuclear deal as well as Washington’s unilateral withdrawal from the agreement and its breach of commitments under the deal.

“We are a nation that respects its deal. In front of us is a government which has reneged on its agreement and signature,” said the president.

“The Iranian nation has remained committed to its obligations, is insisting on the rights it has secured, and will not cave in to unfair and unwarranted pressures which run counter to international regulations,” President Rouhani highlighted.

“If we don’t want to succumb to pressure, we should show the world that we are an integrated, united and brave nation, and we should opt for patience, resistance, solidarity, coordination and having one voice,” he noted.

He then noted that artists and cultural figures play a key role in urging members of society to have “one voice” under the current circumstances.
He then called for a collective effort and cooperation to solve the problems facing the society.

“All of us accept that we are facing numerous problems …. But the question is who should solve these problems. Can the president solve these problems alone? All of us should join hands to overcome problems,” President Rouhani said.

“If we believe that all of us together should solve the problems, then final victory will be ours,” he said.

Prior to the president’s speech, a number of renowned Iranian actors and actresses expressed their viewpoints about some of the current issues in the country and stressed the importance of art and culture in keeping people’s hope alive and easing pressure on them.

This came as some artists turned down the president’s invitation and refused to attend his fast-breaking feast.

According to some analysts, the artists who boycotted the president’s get-together were demagogues seeking to cash in on the situation. Analysts say the boycott was an ostensibly populist move which was ineffective and did not keep Silver Screen veterans as well as key cultural figures from attending the event.

Tehran University Professor and political analyst Sadeq Zibakalam also slammed the boycott, saying these days attacking the president is the least costly thing one can do in Iran.

“Trump Pressurizing Arabs into Waging War on Iran”

IFP Editorial Staff

May 31, 2018

A few weeks on since US President Donald Trump announced Washington’s withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal, reactions to, and analyses on the unexpected move continue to pour in.

Political commentator Hossein Valeh has, in an interview with Khabar Online, weighed in on the consequences of the United States’ pullout from the Iran nuclear deal as well as the prospects of Tehran-Washington relations.

Valeh argues that the US is putting pressure on the UAE and Saudi Arabia to wage a war against Iran, but the Islamic Republic’s regional approach is key to preventing such a war from happening. He says Iran should not behave in a way that leads to a situation where Russia and the US both benefit from such a conflict. In that case, China and the EU would not be able to do anything to stop the conflict and help Tehran.

The first part of the interview was earlier published by the Iran Front Page. What follows is the second and final part of the interview.

In their latest trade deal with Trump, the Chinese agreed to increase the volume of imports from the United States; a move that some analysts believe shows Beijing’s submission to Trump. Can we say that the Chinese feel the noose tightened around their neck, and this will affect their transactions with Iran? Can we say that Beijing, too, has taken a few steps away from Iran?

China needs Iran politically and security-wise less than Europe does. The volume of China-US trade transactions is not at all comparable to the trade volume between Iran and either of them. If the issue of shale oil becomes serious and the risk of a war breaking out in the Persian Gulf rises, China will suffer losses economically. So, Beijing is against any war in the region. This strategic issue is in Iran’s interests. Moreover, China will never give in to the United States. They are playing their game, and they are doing so very carefully.

In how many phases have the sanctions been implemented since the day Trump made a speech and announced Washington’s pullout from the JCPOA? Will more and more sanctions be imposed over time?

Most probably yes. The toughest sanctions, ever, will be imposed by the US against Iran in six months’ time. This is the United States’ declared policy. Iran, for its part, will not accept any of the 12 demands made by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. So, this trend will not stop.

Can we say that Iran is in the worst situation it has ever been on the international stage?

No. But before I explain my answer, I need to add one point. Iran is now in the worst situation it has ever been in the past 40 years, but this is not because of the JCPOA and the United States; rather, it is due to domestic policies. At the international level, Iran has a much better status now compared to its position during the first and second tenures of former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. There is no international consensus against Iran. Furthermore, there exists rather strong political will among some major powers such as Germany and France to work with Iran in various areas. Such will did not use to be there. The presence and activities of Iran in international organizations today are not comparable to its activities during the previous administration. We can still work with serious and strong individuals inside the US, but we couldn’t do so in the previous administration. This opportunity is not seized, though, which is another story. What I’m saying is that despite Trump becoming US President, Iran is in a better situation in the current administration (Rouhani’s) in comparison with its situation during the Ahmadinejad administration.

Can we say the JCPOA did not contain enough strong guarantees for implementation?

Well, if the JCPOA had been signed in the form of a bilateral agreement and approved by both the US Congress and the Iranian Parliament, it would have been more difficult for Trump to pull out of it. But there are two points here which should not be left out: First, Iran and the US needed to agree on some of their differences, so that it would be possible for such ratification. But such a thing would not be possible when the Iranian president does not agree to sit down with his American counterpart on the sidelines of the New York summit. The JCPOA was a deal which only one US administration, and not the whole US government, was a party to. Guarantees for the fulfillment of commitments and agreements in foreign policy can be secured through appropriate behaviour that would ease tensions, give assurances, and result in consensus, not through signatures on paper. There are no courts that we can refer to and file a lawsuit against Trump to put him on trial and have him imprisoned. The same goes for Macron and Merkel. Second, even if the JCPOA had been ratified by Congress, Trump would have scuttled it by adopting certain measures. The way to secure guarantees about agreements with the Americans is through the elements inside the US that would suffer losses if the agreement was dismantled, and hence, they would help keep the deal from being scrapped. This is something that, I believe, Israel has tried hard to prevent over the past decades.

In your idea, what possible options do European countries, Russia, and China have in dealing with Iran in the future?

As long as we have not officially and practically violated the JCPOA, all signatories to the JCPOA except Trump will stay in the agreement. Their attempts to render US sanctions ineffective will be fruitful from 30 to 40 percent. As the United States’ new sanctions run counter to the UN Security Council resolution, the countries affected by the bans will file a lawsuit against the US for the consequences of Washington’s sanctions on their companies or banks, and may even take America’s assets in Europe and reimburse their citizens, companies and governments for their losses. Governments will urge cooperation with Iran and may create special mechanisms for that purpose. Now, they are discussing these issues during the current talks. However, major private companies, especially multinationals, will not work with Iran fearing fines and other penalties by the US.

In my estimation, they will ease pressure on Iran because of other issues as well. The reason is that they have no hope that the US would accept whatever amount of agreement that Europe will reach with Tehran over the provisions of the JCPOA as well as other issues not related to the nuclear deal such as Iran’s missile program and Middle East policy. So, being on a dilemma of pressuring Iran to gain more concessions (which is sometimes mentioned by Russia and France) and easing the pressure to forge closer cooperation with Tehran, they would go for the second option.

What policy should Iran adopt?

We should accept and believe that there is real difference between the US and Europe and between the hawks and doves inside the United States. When it comes to adopting a strategy, we should preserve the situation of maintaining a negative balance. As for tactics, we should stay in the JCPOA. We should pressure Europe to render Iran sanctions ineffective. Concerning issues other than the JCPOA, Iran should not be put under pressure. The policies adopted should help boost Iran’s defence capability to maintain regional balance and stave off a possible war. In the meantime, we should pay attention to the areas about which the Europeans are sensitive. We should work with the doves against the hawks. In other words, a united Iran should do this, not turn into a subject of controversy for different political parties. We should also unite and unify the domestic front.

How do you evaluate the US secretary of state’s threats against Iran? How do you see it that the US both withdraws from the JCPOA and makes serious threats?

The ultimate wish of the CIA’s former chief is to see differences emerge inside Iran over his declared policy, which would pit Iranian officials against one another, paving the way for Washington to capture Iran without even shooting a bullet. If this doesn’t work, then he would like to see war break out among Arabs, so that Moscow and Washington would pocket trillions of dollars each. He would like to see our and Arabs’ military prowess diminish, so that Israel will remain the one and only power. And even if this scenario does not materialize, he would like to get economic and security pressure increased, so much so that Iran would turn to Russia and become a second Crimea. This way, he hopes, the US would be able to rein in Iran through its dealings with the Kremlin, or maybe Tehran will take a U-turn and give in to Washington’s demands.

Can the US government’s stepped-up rhetoric against Iran be the result of the developments on the ground in Syria? If so, is their final objective to weaken and drive Iran out of Syria?

For one reason, it is Israel’s desire to see Iran leave Syria. For another, the Arab states in the south of the Persian Gulf want Iran to get out of Syria, and Russia wants Iran out for a third reason. Trump wants Iran to leave Syria for a fourth reason: His goal is to touch off a regional war.

How likely is it for some regional players to get into a military confrontation with Iran?

Trump is putting maximum pressure on Saudi Arabia and the UAE to drag them into war, but there are serious structural and political hurdles to that. At the moment, the US Congress is preventing Trump from taking any action. Naturally, this would ease Trump’s pressure on Arabs and decrease their courage to wage a war. Europe and China are an impediment to that, too.

How can we manage the simmering economic situation in the country brought about by regional developments?

Today, Iran’s issues are political in nature. Even people’s economic problems have their roots in politics. As long as stability, dynamism, mass popular participation, and a sense of responsibility are not established and reinforced in Iran’s domestic politics, Iran is threatened not only by foreign powers, but also by covert social rifts. If the local front is strengthened and consolidated, the negative impacts of foreign economic pressure as well as domestic problems will decrease. In order to have successful talks, negotiators should be backed up by a strong domestic front.

How do you predict the future?

Iran will manage to negotiate the current steep passageway, but this passing will come at different costs depending on the strategy chosen. It depends a lot on the game played by players in the foreign policy arena. What strategy takes priority in order to harness the fallout from foreign pressure? If the strategy adopted is a defensive one based on the mobilization of domestic facilities and capabilities, and all requirements are fulfilled, for example if social forces and political groups reach agreement with the government in line with the fundamental principles of national interests, and if the pillars of the government observe the very same principles, and no one turns the United States’ current economic war into a tool to advance his agenda, then Iran will overcome this challenge with the least possible costs. Other strategies have heavier prices to pay.