Lawmaker hails FM’s ‘powerful diplomacy’
By Sadeq Dehqan
Staff writer
Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian conducted “powerful diplomacy” during his three-year tenure, lawmaker Ara Shaverdian told Iran Daily on Tuesday, two days after the top diplomat died in a helicopter crash in northwestern Iran.
The fatal mishap also killed President Ebrahim Raisi and two local officials from East Azarbaijan Province.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs under Amir-Abdollahian had a brilliant and dynamic performance,” said Shaverdian, who represents Armenian Iranians in the parliament.
He said Iran secured numerous “diplomatic triumphs” on the global stage amid sanctions, threats, and pressure, “thanks to Amir-Abdollahian’s efforts and Raisi’s tact”.
“One can say Iran regained its authority… as Amir-Abdollahian brought about effective changes in Iran’s foreign policy,” Shaverdian added.
The lawmaker noted that during the term of President Raisi, Iran joined major regional and international accords including the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the BRICS group of major emerging economies — Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa — and signed a free trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union, which comprises Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia.
“These achievements can undoubtedly be attributed to the tireless efforts of both Amir-Abdollahian and President Raisi.”
Shaverdian described the deceased foreign minister as a “person with a unique personality,” whose loss is a “huge setback” to Iran’s diplomacy.
The legislator said Amir-Abdollahian’s successor in the Iranian Foreign Ministry would have a “very difficult job” as he should follow in his footsteps.
He pointed to Iran’s direct missile and drone strike on Israel in April and said Operation True Promise needed “intense diplomatic activities” that the foreign minister managed to handle properly.
Shaverdian hailed Amir-Abdollahian’s policies of good-neighborliness and the promotion of ties with regional nations.
“Due to his efforts, Iran fostered closer ties with South Caucasus, Persian Gulf, and Resistance countries, the latter of which includes Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon.”