Iran found a special place in the Arab world with its independent decisions

Mehr News, International Group: One of the issues that arose after the Al-Aqsa storm operation on October 7 2023 has been proposed, the impact of this operation has been on the relations between Iran and the Arab countries and the map of the region. In this regard, Misrizadiran website conducted an interview with the famous Egyptian political analyst and journalist “Abdullah al-Sanawi” which is described below.

In the past years, some countries of the Arab world have accused Iran of interfering in the internal affairs of some Arab countries. and supported some groups. But after the Al-Aqsa storm operation, little by little, a new image of Iran was revealed to the Arab world. How do you see this image?

Undoubtedly, the image of Iran has improved in the eyes of the Arab people, who have been sympathetic to the Palestinian issue for a long time and are currently sympathizing with the Al-Aqsa storm and the Palestinian resistance, but There are unsolved and hidden problems and they need other alternative convergences between Arab and Iranian people. Another truth that we do not see in the Arab world is that Iran has found a special place in the Arab world in this battle and also with its independent policies recently. Because Iran is almost or definitely the only country in the region that has control over its decisions in the Middle East; A feature that only Egypt had before during the rule of Gamal Abdel Nasser.

The Supreme Leader of the Iranian Revolution, Seyyed Ali Khamenei, mentioned this issue in one of his public speeches and said that Egypt was the first country to have true independence after World War II. gained itself and Iran also gained the same characteristic, i.e. national independence in decision-making; Decisions that are made based on our own interests and discretion, without external effective influence on it, whether we agree or disagree with these decisions. These decisions ultimately stem from purely Iranian reasons, and this is a very unique feature.

One ​​of the paradoxes that happened is that in 1979, the most important historical development of the region took place. In that decisive year, Egypt officially recognized Israel (the Zionist regime) and a peace treaty was signed between Egypt and Israel. In the same year, the Iranian revolution took place, and thus, on the one hand, Egypt, as one of the great powers of the region, left the Arab-Israeli conflict through the peace treaty, and on the other hand, another great regional power, Iran, entered the confrontation field. Iran has gained weight in regional equations since the peace treaties and the beginning of the October War.

On the other hand, Iran relied on two approaches in its policy; One approach in the fight against America and “Israel” and another approach in direct support of the Palestinian issue. We must remember that in the seventies of the last century, “Israel” had an embassy in Tehran, which was evacuated and replaced by the Palestinian embassy. An action that provided popular support for Iran in the region.

With the passage of time and the intensification of major events in Lebanon, the absence of a center of gravity in the Arab world, the emergence of centers of gravity that were created by the power of money and were subordinate to America in their decisions which led to the escalation of crises in the region, and also by relying on Iran’s Shiite political plan, Tehran gained more presence in the region.

After the Al-Aqsa storm and the issuance of official statements by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Iran and Egypt regarding the return Ambassadors, after the end of the Zionist regime’s war against the Palestinian nation, how do you see the relations between Cairo and Tehran in the future?

This issue goes back to the goal of some regional powers in limiting, weakening and isolating Egypt and preventing them from establishing normal relations with other major regional centers from Egypt.

Personally, since 2014, I have wanted to reestablish talks with Iran and reduce tension with Turkey, because Egypt, Turkey and Iran are the 3 main centers of the region, and what Whether we like it or not, we cannot keep the other parties away from the equations of the region. This does not mean forgetting the differences, but it means searching for tools to minimize it; Because searching for the discussed points and agreement with Tehran and Istanbul is part of Egypt’s interests.

Here I recall my conversation with a big and influential Saudi personality. This interview was not done for the purpose of publication. During it, I asked this Saudi character, why do you limit the role of Egypt? Egypt can be a faithful defender of the Gulf (Persian) countries in dialogue with Iran, and on the other hand, Tehran also wants dialogue with Egypt; This is a fact that all political circles were aware of at that time. I asked him, why do you restrict Egypt and oppose the dialogue between Egypt and Iran?

He gave me a very interesting answer. He said why Egypt? We can talk directly with Iran. He told me that there is an approach to carry out dialogue and re-establish diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Tehran, but the martyrdom of Saudi Shia cleric Nimr Baqir al-Nimr and the holding of demonstrations and protests against Saudi diplomatic centers in Iran stopped these actions. He added that if these events had not happened, the agreement would have been reached.

I conveyed this information to Sameh Shoukry, the then foreign minister of Egypt, and asked him, what can you say despite the deliberate limitation of Egypt’s regional role-playing? How has Egypt fallen to its knees to such an extent that it is considered a strange situation?

Anyway, are there real and unmade problems between Egypt and Iran?

Yes.

Can these problems be solved by political and diplomatic means?

Yes.

Do these 2 countries have common interests?

Yes. Of course, the realization of these common interests deserves effort. None of these 2 countries can be without the other. I want to present here some information that seemed strange at the time. In 2014, talks about Syria were held in European capitals without the participation of Egypt. This resulted in an official protest from Cairo, and the Egyptian Foreign Minister expressed his anger about it. After this incident, Egypt joined these talks, but Egypt’s joining these talks was not done at the suggestion of America, European countries or the countries of the Gulf (Persian), but at the suggestion and insistence of Iran.

In the recent years of the presidency of Ebrahim Raeesi, the former president of Iran, the relations between Egypt and Iran took a unique leap in such a way that contacts at the level of presidents and ministers occurred This is despite the fact that the contacts between Iran and Egypt were maintained at the security level for decades. Whenever information about these calls was leaked, it caused the concern of the Persian Gulf countries. When the news of the presence of all the members of the Houthi military council in Egypt for a security meeting was leaked, a big crisis occurred. Therefore, the transition from the stage of diplomatic and political contacts is considered a unique and decisive leap in the history of relations between the two countries.

I believe it is time for the relations between Cairo and Tehran to return to normal, because this event presents the Arab world with an opportunity to downplay all the problems. Existing or potential problems will be put forward.

From 2021 with the occurrence of a clear leap or as you call it, a unique transition in relations between Egypt and Iran, many Israeli newspapers talked about Israel’s concern about this convergence. Anything that robs the Israelis of sleep will result in the opposition of the United States. In addition to this, the previous obstacles that you mentioned against the establishment of relations between Egypt and Iran are still in practice. So how is it possible to normalize relations between Cairo and Tehran?

Currently, there is a difficult economic crisis in Egypt, and in order for Egypt not to reach the border of bankruptcy, the United States, the International Monetary Fund and institutions in general International finance has a decisive role. This issue is considered a big limitation against decision-making in Egypt. In addition to these other regional crises, the effects of the Camp David Agreement, the marginalization of Egypt’s role and the weakening of Egypt’s economy are also present in many cases. Therefore, we are in a situation that does not allow us real freedom of action in national decision-making.

So I find it difficult to take big radical steps in the shadow of the existing conditions; Because in the first place, Egypt must make its own decision so that it can behave with complete independence and without the influence of foreign powers. This takes a long time. Therefore, the agreement between Egypt and Iran will not be close as it appears from the statements. Of course, I hope that this convergence will happen and I see it as necessary for the two countries, but I do not see this as possible in the short term, before Egypt has complete sovereignty over its decisions, especially since this decision is a slap in the face. It is in the form of “Israel” and America. But this slap is not possible in the shadow of Egypt’s current economic crisis that governs its decisions.

The future of relations between Iran and the countries of the Persian Gulf, especially after the agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia How do you see in Beijing?

This agreement is certainly a big radical step forward. Because the attacks of the Houthis on the southern borders of Saudi Arabia and the country’s involvement in an endless war in Yemen, which leads to the economic and military depletion of Riyadh’s capabilities, have worried Saudi Arabia. Also, Riyadh needs to end this war, open a new page and try for peace with Iran. Therefore, Saudi Arabia adopted this measure; An action which, considering the depth of relations between Saudi Arabia and America, is a very brave action.

On the other hand, this action can be seen as a half-hearted action in the process of normalizing relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, and not a complete step; Because the remaining issues between the two countries, such as the cases of Yemen, Lebanon and Iraq, have not yet been resolved. These cases have many entanglements and complications, and so far we have not seen any progress to solve them.

When the Gaza war occurred and Saudi Arabia was pressured to accept the normalization of relations with “Israel” against the recognition of the Palestinian state by Tel Aviv or at least the beginning of its process. came, the process of normalizing relations between Riyadh and Tehran was stopped and talk turned to the formation of a regional economic and security alliance against Iran to strengthen the blockade of Tehran. This is contrary to what I wished for in terms of resolving disputes and conflicts between Iran and the Gulf countries and achieving a high level of stability and focusing on joint economic cooperation. Perhaps the region will witness the playing of security and military roles against countries accused of colluding with Iran. This is where the situation of the Arab regimes, which do not have the freedom to make their own decisions, is clearly seen.

Can the Battle of al-Aqsa storm and Iran’s role in it cause the return of popular movements in the Arab world?

I think there is not even an Arab system that wants the victory of the resistance in the war with Israel; Because they feel the pressure of the consequences that may follow. In my opinion, on the contrary, they will not prevent Iran from being attacked and surrounded as a supporter of the resistance, especially since there are big gaps in the legitimacy of Arab systems that will turn into big differences with the passage of time. The 7th of October was a big earthquake that cannot be avoided from its consequences and effects.

Here we must mention the fact of the Nakbat (forced displacement of Palestinians by the Zionists) in 1948, which was like a big earthquake in the region. After this incident, the Arab world investigated the reasons for its occurrence. One of the consequences of the Nakbat was the revolution of July 1952, after which the nationalization of the Suez Canal and then the Arab union between Egypt and Syria took place. During 10 years, a series of strategic developments took place in the Arab world and especially in Egypt. We will certainly see other big consequences after October 7th.