Iran calls for new paradigm in international relations

Noting that the context of international relations and the players has changed, Iran's Foreign Minister Dr. Mohammad Javad Zarif has called for a "new paradigm" to usher in an inclusive world where each State played a role.

Delivering the Fifth R.K. Mishra Memorial Lecture titled "Iran's Foreign Policy - Towards Stability in West Asia" organised by Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi on Thursday evening, Dr. Zarif said the time of zero sum game, played by the West, is over and India and Iran should work together to bring in the new perspective of cooperation between all the countries.

"No longer there will be monopoly" by an international player, Dr. Zarif said, adding the old zero sum game has only brought hardships, wars and bloodshed to the people, while the new perspective would take each State to a win-win situation, peace and stability through cooperation.

Underlining the need to work towards world peace and regional stability, the Iranian Minister pointed out the new Government of Iran would never try to gain strategic superiority as it would lead to reducing of conventional superiority.

While he welcomed the planned withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan and the forthcoming elections there saying this is an opportunity to take the country to a new world, the Minister, however, pointed out that the Taliban extremists are a big worry for not only Afghanistan and its people but also to the neighbouring countries and the world.

Dr. Zarif also stressed the point that Iran does not believe in making nuclear weapons though it has the technology to do so. He reiterated that Iran's nuclear programme is completely peaceful and blamed the West for creating an illusion that Iran's nuclear programme was aimed at weaponisation.

Pointing out that India and Iran enjoyed thousands of years of cultural and economic bonds, the Minister said India and Iran should work together to create better regional stability.

Pointing out that extremism and terrorism is bad for the entire world, irrespective of wherever it happened, the Minister said aggression and force will only lead to more violence as it had happened in Afghanistan and Iraq in the name of war on terror.

Dr. Zarif said Iran strongly believes that the people of Syria should be allowed to decide the future of their country, and not outsiders. He noted many of the fighters involved in the Syrian violence were from the West.

Taking the example of the 9/11 terrorist attack on the US, the Minister said no country could be safe if its actions led to violence and hatred in other parts of the world, however far it may be.

The R.K.Mishra Memorial Lecture was chaired by External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, who also stressed on the importance of the India-Iran relations.

He said India considers Iran as a "very important" country with whom we had centuries-old civilizational relations. He pointed out that Iran's role in building regional stability.