Asremrooz - Normalizing ties with EU would be high on Zarif’s agenda

Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iranian President Hassan Rohani’s nominee for the post of foreign minister, announced the major components of his plan for his next four years in office, if he is approved by the parliament.

TEHRAN (Asremrooz):In a detailed and lengthy plan published in Iranian media outlets on Tuesday, Zarif highlighted the need to adopt realistic approaches for dealing with the current issues in the international arena while trying to effectively interact with the international community based on mutual respect, détente, and confidence building.

Part of the plan addresses executive and operational objectives of Iran’s foreign policy in light of international developments. Zarif said that “ties with traditional partners in Europe and Asia should be normalized.” Easing tension with major international powers, in line with Iran’s national interests, is also highlighted in Zarif’s plan.

Another part of the plan focuses on the strategies necessary to normalize Iran’s relations with Western governments. Zarif said that as foreign minister he would remove unnecessary, deviationist, and unrelated issues from the agenda of interactions with the European Union.

On regional aspects of his strategy, the experienced diplomat has promised to interact with neighbors, regional powers, and Muslim countries while he tries to neutralize anti-Iran policies in the region.

Zarif has also vowed to take full advantage of Iran’s presidency of the Non-Aligned Movement and raise the level of Iran’s interaction with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in order to better address the problems of the Muslim world.

Zarif served as the permanent representative of Iran to the United Nations from 2002 to 2007. Before his appointment as the ambassador to the UN, he served as the deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs from 1992 until 2002. Between 1989 and 1992, he was Iran’s deputy permanent representative to the United Nations.