+ A
A -
Malek Helali
Doha
AROUND 62% of statements on Syria made by several foreign policymakers in Iran were related to the future of a political solution in the strife-torn Middle East nation. Moreover, 69% of statements were on the conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Yemen and their future, and 13% on a possible armed conflict in the region.
These research data were released during a recent Al Jazeera Centre for Studies (ACS) meeting reviewing the conclusion of a study conducted by ACS researcher Dr Fatima al Samadi on Iran's foreign policy after the nuclear deal.
The research study compiled an analysis and opinion of more than 1,400 political statements made by several foreign policy decision-makers in Iran during the period that followed the implementation of the nuclear deal in 2016 and the first quarter of 2017.
The study involved officials related to planning and implementing Iran's foreign policy, in addition to those influencing its process, such as religious clerics, the Guide of the Islamic revolution, the Iranian president, the foreign minister, the Revolutionary Guard leaders, the defence minister, officials in the army, along with several senior leaders and prominent clerics.
Furthermore, about 54% of statements by Iranian officials were on conflict and tension continuing in Palestine, and 39% were on the armed conflict in particular.
And 54% of the statements criticised and condemned political decisions reportedly taken by the new US administration, along with 37% of hostile statements, in the first quarter of 2017, reflecting the strained ties between Iran and the US. There were also hostile statements made by Iranian officials and decision-makers in the first quarter of 2017, with about 58% towards Saudi Arabia. Statements predicting a future based on political solutions and settlements regarding nuclear deal figured around 56% while a future based on tension was 29%.
At the event, Samadi said that the relationship between Iran and Russia fundamentally relies on the Syrian conflict and any changes to the Syrian case may affect the relationship directly. She added that regarding the nuclear deal, Iran counts on European countries, excluding the UK, as Iranian politicians have a positive future outlook towards mainland Europe.
Samadi also said that statements towards Israel were characterised with threats and hostility.
Moreover, Samadi said that the Iranian politicians viewed US President Donald Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia"as an attempt to set ground to establish unconventional alliances in the region against Iran". But, she added that while there were no clear signs confirming the likelihood of this scenario, Iran's leaders still considered it as a topic of discussion.
With regard to Iran's own neighbourhood, the research results, Samadi said, indicate a positive relationship with Turkey and predict an optimistic future in the ties between the two countries irrespective of their political disagreement on Syria. And like Turkey, relation with Pakistan is also 'optimistic'.
