China, Russia stood by us, US must draw lessons from past: Pezeshkian
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The Iranian president-elect says he "deeply values" the trust of Iranians and is fully committed to forging consensus.
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Iranian president-elect Masoud Pezeshkian gestures while surrounded by supporters outside a polling station in Tehran on July 5, 2024. (AFP)
The president-elect of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian, has released a written message expressing his thoughts, titled, "My message to the new world."
Pezeshkian is set to officially become the 9th president of the Islamic Republic of Iran, with his swearing-in ceremony scheduled to take place in the parliament, also known as Majlis, on July 30, 2024.
Published in Tehran Times, he opened up his message by touching on Iran's extraordinary stability amid conflict and volatility in the region by conducting orderly and peaceful elections.
"This stability, and the dignified manner in which the elections were conducted, underscore the discernment of our Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, and the dedication of our people to democratic transition of power even in the face of adversity," he wrote.
He emphasized that he ran on a platform centered on reform, national unity, and constructive engagement with the world, finally gaining the trust of his fellow citizens at the ballot box, particularly young women and men "dissatisfied with the overall state of affairs." He expressed that he "deeply values their trust" and is fully committed to forging consensus.
Foreign policy based on 'dignity, wisdom, and prudence'
Pezeshkian emphasized that his government would safeguard the nation's national dignity under all circumstances and that its foreign policy would be based on "dignity, wisdom, and prudence," which he would strive to formulate and execute.
He vowed "to leverage all authority granted to my office to pursue this overarching objective."
He vowed that his government would pursue a strategy of striking a balance in relations with all nations in a way consistent with Iran's national interests, economic progress, and the requirements of regional and global peace and security.
"We will welcome sincere efforts to alleviate tensions and will reciprocate good-faith with good-faith," Pezeshkian maintained.
Improving relations with neighbors will be prioritized during his tenure, he noted, adding that he will champion the establishment of a "strong region" rather than dominance by a singular nation.
Pezeshkian expressed he did not believe in wasting resources over "erosive competitions, arms races, or the unwarranted containment of each other." Rather, he eyes an environment where resources are employed for everyone's benefit by helping with the region's success and development.
The leader expressed readiness to work with Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Iraq, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and regional organizations "to deepen our economic ties, bolster trade relations, promote joint-venture investment, tackle common challenges, and move towards establishing a regional framework for dialogue, confidence building and development."
For too long, according to Pezeshkian, the area has been afflicted with war, sectarianism, terrorism and extremism, and foreign intervention, among other issues.
Pezeshkian calls on states to influence a ceasefire in Gaza
Highlighting how in 1979, following the Revolution, the Islamic Republic of Iran severed ties with two apartheid regimes, "Israel" and South Africa, Pezeshkian stated that the former continues to be an "apartheid dictatorship" and has added genocide to its record of war crimes and ethnic cleansing, settlement construction, nuclear weapons possession, "and aggression against its neighbors."
He called for neighboring Arab nations to work together to influence a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, preventing the war from spreading further, and ending the occupation that has "devastated the lives of 4 generations of Palestinians."
"All states have a binding duty under the 1948 Genocide Convention to take measures to prevent genocide; not to reward it through normalization of relations with the perpetrators," Pezeshkian added.
Touching on accusations of antisemitism, he described how Iran is often accused of antisemitism for its stance against the occupation, calling these claims "patently false" and an "insult to our culture, beliefs, and core values."
Addressing students protesting in support of Palestine, the Iranian president-elect said, "Rest assured that these accusations are as absurd as the unjust claims of antisemitism directed at you while you protest on university campuses to defend the Palestinians' right to life."
China and Russia 'friends, neighbors'
Citing great respect, Pezeshkian also stated that China and Russia have consistently supported Iran throughout adverse times, explaining that the 25-year plan with China is an important step to forging a mutually advantageous partnership.
He recalled how Beijing mediated the restoration of diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia, calling it proof of China's "constructive vision and forward-thinking" and assuring that Tehran would continue to work closely with Beijing toward a new global order.
Regarding Russia, Pezeshkian called the country a "valued strategic ally and neighbor," detailing how his administration would actively work for peace for the people of Russia and Ukraine and continue to promote bilateral and multilateral cooperation with Moscow, particularly in BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and the Eurasia Economic Union.
He also touched on the global landscape that has evolved beyond traditional dynamics, vowing that his government would be dedicated to building mutually beneficial relationships with the Global South, particularly African nations.
Relationships with Latin America, despite being well-established, will be further strengthened to promote development, discussion, and collaboration, he maintained.
Relationship with Europe marred by 'ups and downs'
Regarding Iran's relationship with Europe, Pezeshkian noted it had many "ups and downs," referring to the US departure from the JCPOA in 2018 and the subsequent broken promises made by European nations to help Iran's economy and offset the impact of US sanctions on the nation.
Despite such actions, Pezeshkian affirmed he was ready to engage in "constructive dialogue" with Europe toward a path of mutual respect and equality.
However, Europe should note that Iranians are "proud people whose rights and dignity can no longer be overlooked," he asserted. If European nations accept this reality and abandon their moral superiority and manufactured crises, numerous areas of opportunities for collaboration can be explored, he expressed.
Iran will never respond to coercion
The president-elect also asserted that the US must also acknowledge this fact and accept that Iran will never respond to coercion. The country entered the JCPOA in good faith and fulfilled all its responsibilities, he noted.
After the US withdrew from the deal, he stated that it increased its hostilities through an economic war and engaging in state terrorism by assassinating General Qassem Soleimani, whom he described as "a global anti-terrorism hero known for his success in saving the people of our region from the scourge of ISIS and other ferocious terrorist groups."
"Today, the world is witnessing the harmful consequences of that choice," he asserted.
Regarding the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), he noted that the West had the opportunity to reduce tensions rather than undermine the NPT and abuse it to create a crisis over Iran's peaceful nuclear program.
Instead, "they have actively contributed to and continue to support the nuclear weapons of Israel, an apartheid regime, a compulsive aggressor and a non-NPT member and a known possessor of an illegal nuclear arsenal."
Pezeshkian asserted that Iran's defense philosophy does not include nuclear weapons, calling on Washington "to learn from past miscalculations and adjust its policy accordingly."
Moreover, lambasting the US policy of "pitting regional countries against each other," he said that decision-makers need to recognize that such a policy "has not succeeded and will not succeed in the future."
"They need to come to terms with this reality and avoid exacerbating current tensions," Pezeshkian asserted.
In conclusion, the newly elected president expressed that the people of Iran have entrusted him with a "strong mandate to vigorously pursue constructive engagement on the international stage while insisting on our rights, our dignity, and our deserved role in the region and world."
