Pres. candidate: Foreign policy opportunities facing Iran 'outnumber' threats

Iranian presidential candidate Saeed Jalili says in the field of foreign policy, the opportunities available to the country outnumber threats.

Jalili made the remarks in a 90-minute-long televised round-table political discussion on Friday.

“Foreign policy is a completely smart and real arena, where we should make maximal use of [available] opportunities and recognize [existing] threats,” he said.

Jalili, a former lead nuclear negotiator and head of the country’s Supreme National Security Council, reminded that he had been active in the area of foreign policy for the past 35 years, making dozens of overseas trips and attending numerous meetings with foreign figures.

Pointing to his slogan, “A world of opportunities, a mega leap for Iran,” he reasserted, “Today, we have numerous opportunities in [the field of] foreign policy, of which we can draw maximal benefit through [proper] planning and realize a mega leap for Iran.”

“We are currently at a juncture, where international developments are in transition, [something] which is to our benefit and can yield opportunities for us,” the candidate specified.

Profile: Saeed Jalili, Ex-Nuclear Negotiator, Security Body Chief

Saeed Jalili, a former nuclear negotiator, security official, diplomat and a veteran politician, is among the six candidates running for Iran’s presidency.

Explaining the transition in question, he noted that following the Al-Aqsa Storm -- a retaliatory operation by Palestinian resistance movements on October 7 -- those who used to make plans for the region ended up finding their reputation in tatters.

On the other hand, the Islamic Republic had its power enhanced, Jalili said, citing Operation True Promise -- a multi-pronged attack that the Iranian Armed Forces launched against the occupied territories late on April 13 in response to deadly aggression by the Israeli regime against Iranian diplomatic premises in the Syrian capital Damascus.

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The operation “was commended by all” and proved Iran to be an “influential power,” the presidential aspirant stated.

Now, those who used to make plans for the region say they wield no more influence, while Iran can play a role and serve as a determinant factor, he said, adding, “We should avail ourselves of these circumstances, and draw benefit from them.”

“Therefore, [the country’s] foreign policy plan should be availed of as an opportunity to weaken the enemies and competitors or enhance the country’s situation.”

Defeat of enemy's 'maximum pressure policy' under Raeisi

Elsewhere in his remarks, Jalili pointed to the so-called “maximum pressure” policy adopted under former US President Donald Trump, under which Washington unilaterally left a multi-national nuclear agreement with Iran and returned the sanctions that the deal had lifted.

Iran’s martyred President Ebrahim Raeisi was, however, determined to defeat the policy, the candidate said, citing the enhancement of the country’s oil sales under his administration to as many as two million barrels per day.

Even US Secretary of State Antony Blinken admitted to the sheer rise in Iran’s oil sales at the American Senate, Jalili said.

“Martyr Raeisi pursued these issues, and the result was that even the person, who is in a position of enmity towards Iran, announced that the maximum pressure strategy had suffered an egregious failure,” he asserted.

“If the [country’s] president opts to [properly] recognize the nation’s strength and the opportunities that are available to himself, then he would make the country leap forward instead of making it wait for political transitions across other countries,” the candidate said. The chief executive would, thereby, “reduce the enemy’s threat to zero,” the presidential hopeful noted.

He, accordingly, said the requirement of economic prosperity was “constructive interaction” with the world, instead of “awaiting a handful of countries.”

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