Expo, int’l confabs prove Iran not painted into corner
By Jafar Ghannadbashi
Foreign policy expert
Iran’s geographic position and its economic and commercial capacities are so important and huge that many countries—both openly and behind the scenes—are keen to establish ties with it and step into economic exchanges with the Islamic Republic.
The country is seen as a reliable partner in numerous areas of economic cooperation, including trade and investment. Given that Iran lacks any colonial history, it has a favorable image particularly among wealthier nations in the Global South, countries rich in natural resources and possessing valuable exports, such as certain African and Asian nations, as well as those currently gearing up for economic growth.
This is all in sharp contrast to the ongoing propaganda efforts aimed at painting Iran into a corner. Over the past 46 years, there have been numerous ups and downs in US-led Western attempts to isolate Iran. At times, the pressure has ramped up, while at others it has tapered off.
Today, however, it seems that the West’s standing—particularly among those leading the charge against Iran—has taken a serious hit to its credibility. One key figure in this decline is US President Donald Trump, whose racist rhetoric at home and derogatory remarks referring to African nations as “shithole countries,” coupled with his pressure campaign against Iran, have backfired in significant ways.
As a result, Iran’s popularity among African and Islamic nations has been on the rise. Governments around the world can hardly turn a blind eye to the will of their people. The Islamic character of the Islamic Republic has struck a chord with Muslim nations, while countries opposed to racism have not forgotten Iran’s historical support for liberation movements, including during Nelson Mandela’s struggle for South African freedom and Namibia’s independence. Such shared memories have nudged public opinion in these regions in Iran’s favor, paving the way for warmer relations.
In this context, the leverage once held by US diplomacy and its media apparatus has largely worn thin, especially after the past year and a half of widely criticized coverage concerning the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip. Their ability to shape the narrative and sway global opinion has taken a noticeable nosedive.
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