Iran Promoting Muslim Unity

Tehran, Feb 23, IRNA - Iran’s new diplomacy has elevated its status in the region and the world, an English-language daily wrote on Sunday. “The large-scale participation of representatives from over 60 Muslim countries in the recently-concluded Parliamentary Union of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Tehran demonstrates the leverage enjoyed by Iran in the Muslim world,ˈ Iran Daily said in its editorial. The regional equation that existed before President Hassan Rouhani came to power has been disturbed, it said, adding, ˈTherefore, some of the regional players are trying to reshape the emerging permutation of forces to tilt the balance of power in their own favor.ˈ The article reiterated that a quick look at efforts to disturb the new equation would bring home the point to regional states that it would be in their interests to join hands with Iran to thwart common threats, fight enemies and promote Shia-Sunni unity. It added that there are at least four key measures noteworthy for the present analysis, which are discussed below: 1- Some states have attempted to erode Iran’s ideological influence in Lebanon by supporting likeminded governments and creating insecurity in that country by sending bombing squads. By granting petrodollars for military purchases and bombing Iranian offices in Lebanon, the enemies of regional stability aim to drive a wedge between Iran and Lebanon. However, they have made a fatal miscalculation: Iran’s influence in Lebanon does not depend merely on its good relations with the Lebanese government but with the Lebanese people as well. Hence, a change of governments will not undermine Iran’s influence in Lebanon because the support of Lebanese nation plays a crucial role in buttressing all governments. Iran’s relations with the Lebanese people do not change with the change of government, because they consider Iran their friends. 2- The second move includes attempts to overthrow one of the strongest and longstanding allies of Iran in the region, i.e. the Syrian government. Unfortunately, some states are going to the extreme in this respect and have become sponsors of the worst kind of terrorism in the Muslim world. The editorial further noted that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government will not be toppled through terrorist acts for several reasons: A- Assad has a strong social base; B- Except for some genuine peaceful opposition, whose grievances should be addressed justly, Assad’s major enemies are notorious terrorists who are among the most hated figures in Syria; C- Assad has strong foreign allies besides his solid social base. 3- The enemies of regional solidarity and unity have tried to mobilize Persian Gulf states against Iran under the fabricated notion of Shia-Sunni divide. This strategy is doomed, as Iraq, Oman, the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait have openly expressed their satisfaction with the Iran-P5+1 deal. 4- Some vested interests have also tried to prevent Iran’s rapprochement with the United States, but just as Israel has failed to do so, they found themselves lashing a dead horse. After the conclusion of the Iran-P5+1 deal, Tehran-Washington relations have moved away from animosity and entered the stage of dialogue, which shows the two sides moving toward detente and entente, the paper said. Today, Iran has become the hub of diplomatic parleys and is regularly hosting one high-level delegation after another from Europe, Asia and Africa. This process is irreversible. Iran is on course for full integration into the international community as an honorable, independent and powerful member, it wrote. Without any doubt, Iran’s next step is coalition and cooperation with all neighbors. Iran’s neighbors are wise enough to amend their policies in their national interests and the interests of the Muslim world. Except for a period of time, i.e. during the previous administration, Iran has always considered its Persian Gulf neighbors as a pillar of Muslim world and as brotherly countries, the daily stressed. ˈIf these countries also adopt the same approach, the Muslim world can easily ward off terrorism, sectarianism, extremism, poverty, insecurity and underdevelopment, which are plaguing the Muslim world. They are most welcome to join hands with their brethren in Iran.ˈ/end