Iran ramps up anti-West rhetoric, expands influence in Iraq and Lebanon

Iran is strengthening ties with allies in Iraq and Lebanon while accusing the US and Israel of coercive diplomacy in its latest regional push.

Iran continues to do outreach to its friends in Iraq and Lebanon while also slamming Israel and making it seem like talks with the West are only a form of coercion. As such, Iran’s current leadership and those around it seek to bolster their remaining allies while maintaining a moat between themselves and the West.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and the Political Advisor to the Lebanese Parliament Speaker, Ali Hassan Khalil, have reviewed the most important bilateral and regional issues, according to Iranian state media. The meeting was held during a conference on international law in Tehran this weekend.

“This meeting has hosted 350 international and domestic guests, including diplomatic delegations, professors, and analysts from France, Italy, Greece, Lebanon, Iraq, Ireland, Slovakia, the United Kingdom, Finland, Russia, and other regional nations,” Iran’s state media claimed.

Iran is apparently trying to use this discussion about international law to make it seem that international law is under “attack”, apparently by the US, Israel, and the West. “Mohammad Eslami, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, will participate in a free discussion hosted by Saeed Khatibzadeh, Deputy Foreign Minister and Head of the Center for Political and International Studies (CPIS),” the report said.

Subjects included “International Law Under Siege: From a rules-based order to an order based on rules.” Of course, Israel and the US were slammed for “betraying” diplomacy. One subject covered was “Revisiting Regional Security Arrangements: Key elements and determining factors.”

This comes as Iran has called for a global response to the crisis in Sudan. Why does Iran focus on Sudan? Apparently, it backs the army’s role in Sudan against the RSF. This would apparently put Iran at odds with the UAE and some others. “

Armed clashes in Sudan began on April 15, 2023, between the army led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commanded by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti.

The conflict stemmed from disputes over how to integrate the RSF into the army following the 2021 coup. International mediation efforts have so far failed to end it,” Iran’s IRNA state media said.

At the same time, Iran’s president congratulated Iraq’s Prime Minister, Shia al-Sudani, on the recent elections in Iraq. Sudani’s party performed well in the vote. Iran backs Shi’ite militias in Iraq.

The Iranian leadership’s Administration spokesperson, Fatemeh Mohajerani, meanwhile, “described the West’s talks as coercive in nature and warned of a harsher response to future attacks,” IRNA noted.

Iran’s rejection of one-sided diplomacy

In an interview with Al-Mayadeen, which is considered pro-Iranian, she talked about diplomacy and how other countries in the West were trying to coerce Iran. “Mohajerani emphasized Iran’s rejection of one-sided diplomacy, its right to self-defense, and its commitment to strengthening strategic ties with neighboring and allied states.”

Of interest were several comments. “On Iran’s missile program, Mohajerani explained that the country had been engaged in negotiations when it was suddenly hit by a US-backed Israeli aggression, saying it is only natural for Iran to strengthen its missile capabilities to deter any renewed aggression,” she said.

Mohajerani also “said that Tehran is currently cooperating with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) within the framework of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, noting that ‘we have not withdrawn from this agreement; we have only frozen it and suspended its implementation.’”

In another point in the interview, she spoke about Iran’s broader strategy under decades of Western sanctions, a strategy that the country continued to apply after the “snapback” that European countries have put in place.

“She went on to highlight the relationship with China, describing it as comprehensive and spanning all sectors, from specialized academic scholarships to the implementation of joint projects, noting that overall trade volumes across different fields have reached significant levels.”

In a speech, Iran’s former foreign minister Javad Zarif also talked about how “peace” in the region is a threat to Israel. “Zarif questioned why Israel launched a strike on Iran two days before the sixth round of Iran–US negotiations, reiterating that for Israel, “peace is a vital threat, and they have created a false and baseless narrative in the world to pursue their policy,” IRNA noted him saying.

He also said the US had failed to impose a “unipolar” system on the world. Meaning, Iran, China, Russia, and others seek a multi-polar world to balance the US.