The Tehran-Shahr newspaper focused its headline on President Trump’s remarks at the Sharm el-Sheikh summit and wrote: In a statement, President Trump said he would like to lift sanctions on Iran when Tehran is ready for talks.
President Trump’s comments show that he is trying to instill a new image of the regional order that Washington desires. Indeed, his words can be seen as reflecting plans by the United States, which relies on an Arab coalition, to redefine the balance of power in the Middle East. Indeed, President Trump’s presence in Sharm el-Sheikh is reminiscent of traditional efforts to form a “new security architecture” that views Iran as destructive, or at least neutral. Seen from this perspective, his insistence on “dialogue under sanctions” is a kind of reproduction of intellectual pressure aimed at forcing Tehran to commit to a given framework. The US government is trying to create a new equation of pursuing dialogue through the Arab route. If such a process becomes reality, it could increase political and psychological pressure on Iran.
Jawan: Tehran-Moscow-Baku Agreement on Capacity Development of the North-South Corridor
The jawan recalled the tripartite meeting between Iran, Russia and Azerbaijan on the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC). The paper claims that the three countries have decided to take a pragmatic approach to make the most of the capabilities of the North-South Transport Corridor, with emphasis on expanding cooperation in the areas of transport, energy and customs. This route could pave the way for a boom in shipping from Russia to the Indian Ocean once the remaining sections within Azerbaijani territory are completed. In the context of the growing importance of transport routes in the world, Iran is working with regional partners to make the most of new corridors and strengthen its geopolitical position in global transport. The completion of the North-South Corridor will bring great benefits to Iran, Russia, and Azerbaijan. Iran, which is at the center of this route, can serve as a transit hub for the region and increase foreign exchange earnings. The completion of this corridor will not only strengthen economic and political cooperation between the three countries, but will also significantly strengthen the roles of both countries in the Eurasian-South Asian trade equation.
Ham Mihan: The missing link of diplomatic initiatives
In a memo, Ham Mihan criticized Iran’s absence from the Sharm el-Sheikh summit, writing that “the nuclear negotiations and the process of promoting diplomacy on this important national issue have reached an indisputable impasse, but its presence at the summit could have given it a different pulse.” A new avenue could be opened to proceed down the diplomatic path, without having to prepare and spend significant time and money to restart a new round of negotiations, especially in the form of extensive pre-negotiation consultations. Whether we are for or against negotiations with the West, we cannot hide the fact that progress in both directions requires communication, cooperation, convergence, and the pursuit of dynamic diplomacy with our regional territories and neighbors. Iran’s presence at the conference could have been the key to new cooperation between Islamic countries, as Iran’s enemies, including Israel, have always sought to portray Iran as polar opposite and at odds with Islamic countries by promoting Iranophobia agendas.
Khorasan: China’s economic resilience could serve as a model for Iran
Khorasan analyzed China’s economic resistance in the face of US pressure. It said, “The technology war between China and the United States is a competition to determine their share in the new world order.” China’s experience proves that in a sanctions-constrained environment, states can strategically synthesize natural resources, technological expertise, and economic national strategy to repurpose constraints as instruments of power. The message to Iran is also clear. Confronting sanctions is not just an economic issue. We also need a smart mix of industrial policy, diversity in foreign relations, and technological independence. In this regard, economic transparency and the practical planning of a knowledge-based economy as soon as possible is one of the key requirements. It should be noted that sanctions are not the end. It’s the beginning of a strategic game, and the winners are those who use patience, planning, and intelligence to turn limitations into opportunities. Beijing’s experience in the face of technological conflict and external pressure between China and the United States provides a useful model for Iran to strengthen its economic resilience to sanctions by following prudent policies.