October 08, 2021
by Warren L. Nelson
In his first foreign policy speech delivered to the global community at the UN, President Raisi provided a two-pronged message one part was a theological theme of applying Islamic ethics to world affairs, and the other was a tub-thumping anti-American screed.
But he said nothing about his foreign policy.
Raisi did not go to New York to deliver his speech like all his predecessors. Instead, he just sent a videotape that was played in the largely empty UN General Assembly chamber. Thus, he gave up the opportunity to meet face-to-face with other presidents and heads of government. But many other leaders did the same thing.
It was explained that he declined to fly to New York because of the coronavirus epidemic. But many suspected that he feared he might be arrested and jailed in New York as many critics of the regime are saying he should be arrested and tried for his role in the 1988 mass executions of regime opponents. Since a former prosecutor has been arrested and is on trial in Sweden on just such charges, many in Tehran view an arrest threat as real.
The key takeaway from Raisi’s UN speech was not what he said, but what he did not say. He said not a word about the future of the talks over reviving the nuclear deal. He said nothing about ongoing talks with Saudi Arabia. He did not even mention Afghanistan. He did not indicate what his government’s priorities are in foreign relations. In sum, he gave little more than a rhetorical speech without addressing anything that the world cares about with respect to Iran and where it is going.
The first part of Raisi’s taped message portrayed him as an Islamic scholar and intellectual. He said:
“I, as the elected President of the great people of Iran, am honored to be their representative to convey to the world at large the message of rationality, justice and freedom, which are the three most fundamental principles of the life of contemporary man. However, those three principles, which all the Abrahamic religions have in common, will not be able to attain their purpose without spirituality.
“Freedom and justice as two sacred and innocent words that are too broad to define are indeed very tough and intricate when it comes to practicing. Freedom means the right to think, decide and act for all the human beings. Peace and lasting security are tied to the administration of justice and, basically, the divine prophets emerged so that people would demand justice and exercise their rights. Justice and freedom may be achieved only when the rights of all nations are fulfilled. As a matter of fact, any violation of the rights of nations will, more than anything, endanger global peace and security,” Raisi told the UN General Assembly.
But he soon shifted to a vitriolic attack on the United States.
“This year, two scenes made history: one was on January the 6th when the US Congress was attacked by the people and, two, when the people of Afghanistan were dropped down from the US planes in August. From the Capitol to Kabul, one clear message was sent to the world: the US hegemonic system has no credibility, whether inside or outside the country,” Raisi said, in the official English text of his speech released by the Islamic Republic.
The logic of this paragraph was lost on many since Iran has had far more anti-government protests than the United States and the two men who tried to ride on the outside of US planes from Kabul were trying to get to the safety of the United States and were not condemning the United States.
Raisi continued his analysis, saying, “What is seen in our region today proves that not only the hegemonist and the idea of hegemony, but also the project of imposing Westernized identity have failed miserably. The result of seeking hegemony has been blood-spilling and instability and, ultimately, defeat and escape. Today, the US does not get to exit Iraq and Afghanistan but is expelled. And, at the same time, it is the oppressed people, from Palestine and Syria to Yemen and Afghanistan, as well as the US taxpayers, who have to pay for this lack of rationality.”
Raisi said, “Sanctions are the US new way of war with the nations of the world,” although US sanctions actually date back to the Jefferson Administration in 1807.
Raisi did, however, say, “Sanctions against the Iranian nation started not with my country’s nuclear program; they even predate the Islamic Revolution and go back to the year 1951 when oil nationalization went underway in Iran.” Those sanctions, however, were not American, but British.
Raisi also said, “Sanctions, especially sanctions on medicine at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, are crimes against humanity.” But there are no US sanctions on the sale of medicine to the Islamic Republic and none on banking actions related to medicine sales, as the World Health Organization said as far back as December.
In the closing sentences of his address, Raisi made a stab at describing his foreign policy, though only in rhetorical terms. “I seek effective interaction with all the countries of the world,” he said, “especially with our neighbors and shake their hands warmly. A new era has begun. The Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to play its part for a better world a world brim-full of rationality, justice, freedom, morality and spirituality.”
Raisi spoke the day after US President Josph Biden addressed the General Assembly. In a 33-minute address, Biden devoted all of three sentences to Iran: “The United States remains committed to preventing Iran from gaining a nuclear weapon. We are working with the P5+1 to engage Iran diplomatically and seek a return to the JCPOA. We’re prepared to return to full compliance if Iran does the same.”
King Salman of Saudi Arabia also addressed the General Assembly by videotape. He spoke about the kingdon’s ongoing talks with the Islamic Republic, saying he hopes the talks lead to tangible results to help achieve the aspirations of all the region’s people. He did not lob any criticisms at Iran.
