Pezeshkian’s foreign policy based on constructive engagement
By Rahman Ghahremanpour
Strategic affairs analyst
The article by President-elect Masoud Pezeshkian about his government’s perspective on foreign policy is significant in many ways, as it sends a crystal-clear message to the world: Iran’s new administration is all about striking a balance in its foreign affairs.
The 20-year vision document is a major guiding light for the Islamic Republic of Iran. When it was being drafted, two main schools of thought on foreign policy emerged. The first argued that confrontational approaches were needed to safeguard Iran’s interests, pushing for resistance against the West.
The second believed engagement with the global community was the way forward to secure Iran’s interests. Ultimately, the “constructive engagement” concept – the result of a consensus among experts, politicians, and decision-makers – was enshrined as the cornerstone of Iran’s foreign policy in the document. Sadly, this approach was sidelined during Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s presidency and was limited to Europe with lackluster results under his successor Hassan Rouhani.
Pezeshkian’s article calls to mind that internal consensus, backing a balanced, constructive engagement with the world. During the election campaign for president, both the confrontational and engagement-focused viewpoints were on full display.
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