This follows his criticism of the Zangezur Corridor earlier this summer and Iran’s recent summoning of the Russian Ambassador to complain about Moscow’s support of that project.
I suspect the Iranian leaders said to themselves: Why a multipolar world should have US/West, Russia/China. and India as three pillars? Why not adding Iran as well? However, I think they understand that Iran is not at that position as yet. Hopefully, Iran is only bargaining hard, perhaps a little too hard. A good bargainer should do all the hard work behind closed doors and simply crack jokes in front of the news media and says very little.
Yeah... SO glad I'm not a diplomat! (I don't think I would have got very far along that career path!) The jokes might be fun but the saying very little part would suck.
And, yes, what you're thinking about Iran wanting to expand its role as an additional pillar makes good, logical sense.
I have to wonder if Khamenei is getting (a) old and (b) a bit desperate as none of its strategic relationships can extract from the impact of sanctions and general isolation.
I'm very sympathetic to Iran but Khamenei's comments do seem irrational.
And what basis can their be for a resumption of talks with the West? It reeks of weakness, to be honest. The only way forward is concessions from Iran that it was unwilling to grant in the past. That's the definition of weakness.
That said, here is an interesting bit from former Indian diplomat MK Bhadrakumar condemning Indian support for Israel:
He contrasts Western criticism of Indian policy in its volatile Northeast with Iranian criticism of the situation in J&K:
>>"In a devastating article that neatly overlapped the high-profile visit of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to Germany, the Deutsche Welle — a national broadcasting station, by the way — continued that apart from the militarisation of that tiny state, the Indian government has no policy.
"What do we do with such brutal criticism? We either stomach it when it originates from powerful Western countries such as Germany or the US (or the United Nations), or become hysterical when Iran compares the situation in J&K with Gaza. Perhaps, India is the only country in the Global South which behaves so cynically. When the aristocrats in our political class wax eloquently that ‘India matters’ as a world power, they overlook that we live in a veritable glass house in the age of the Internet in which information travels around the world in seconds. One can hear the derisive suppressed laughter in the Western world when we strut around on the global stage as ‘Vishwaguru’."
Hi Andrew, "Regardless of whatever anyone’s opinion is about the state of minorities in either country...". These are the kinda statements made by non-natives who have NO PERCEPTION of REALITIES on the Ground in the last 1000 years. Can you name a SINGLE TIME where a HINDU went on a Rampage against other cultures ? Retaliated, sure! But NEVER fired the 1st bullet. if you analyze what happened to HINDUS (all Dharmics essentially aka Hindus,sikhs, buddhists, Jains, nature worshippers and EVEN NASTIKs) and the crimes committed against us, you wouldnt use that phrase. As for the "SECOND BIGGEST MAJORITY aka Muslims" (not minority anymore), they have TOTAL CONTROL over RELIGIOUS, EDUCATIONAL, LAW and SOCIETAL rules coincerning them. and They live Tax free. They can marry 4 women wherease no one else can. They eat tax money from other religious institutions aka HINDU temples coz they TAX the shtee outta temples and TEMPLES ONLY. I can go on and on and on...How'd think Muslims grew in Number in Bharat ? You think they come in peacefully? NOT A SOUL believes that on Planet Earth! Common Andrew, do a better job.
I suspect the Iranian leaders said to themselves: Why a multipolar world should have US/West, Russia/China. and India as three pillars? Why not adding Iran as well? However, I think they understand that Iran is not at that position as yet. Hopefully, Iran is only bargaining hard, perhaps a little too hard. A good bargainer should do all the hard work behind closed doors and simply crack jokes in front of the news media and says very little.
Yeah... SO glad I'm not a diplomat! (I don't think I would have got very far along that career path!) The jokes might be fun but the saying very little part would suck.
And, yes, what you're thinking about Iran wanting to expand its role as an additional pillar makes good, logical sense.
I have to wonder if Khamenei is getting (a) old and (b) a bit desperate as none of its strategic relationships can extract from the impact of sanctions and general isolation.
I'm very sympathetic to Iran but Khamenei's comments do seem irrational.
And what basis can their be for a resumption of talks with the West? It reeks of weakness, to be honest. The only way forward is concessions from Iran that it was unwilling to grant in the past. That's the definition of weakness.
It's disconcerting to see this unfold.
That said, here is an interesting bit from former Indian diplomat MK Bhadrakumar condemning Indian support for Israel:
He contrasts Western criticism of Indian policy in its volatile Northeast with Iranian criticism of the situation in J&K:
>>"In a devastating article that neatly overlapped the high-profile visit of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to Germany, the Deutsche Welle — a national broadcasting station, by the way — continued that apart from the militarisation of that tiny state, the Indian government has no policy.
"What do we do with such brutal criticism? We either stomach it when it originates from powerful Western countries such as Germany or the US (or the United Nations), or become hysterical when Iran compares the situation in J&K with Gaza. Perhaps, India is the only country in the Global South which behaves so cynically. When the aristocrats in our political class wax eloquently that ‘India matters’ as a world power, they overlook that we live in a veritable glass house in the age of the Internet in which information travels around the world in seconds. One can hear the derisive suppressed laughter in the Western world when we strut around on the global stage as ‘Vishwaguru’."
Read more at: https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/indias-military-support-to-israel-is-a-hideous-mistake-3195471
Hi Andrew, "Regardless of whatever anyone’s opinion is about the state of minorities in either country...". These are the kinda statements made by non-natives who have NO PERCEPTION of REALITIES on the Ground in the last 1000 years. Can you name a SINGLE TIME where a HINDU went on a Rampage against other cultures ? Retaliated, sure! But NEVER fired the 1st bullet. if you analyze what happened to HINDUS (all Dharmics essentially aka Hindus,sikhs, buddhists, Jains, nature worshippers and EVEN NASTIKs) and the crimes committed against us, you wouldnt use that phrase. As for the "SECOND BIGGEST MAJORITY aka Muslims" (not minority anymore), they have TOTAL CONTROL over RELIGIOUS, EDUCATIONAL, LAW and SOCIETAL rules coincerning them. and They live Tax free. They can marry 4 women wherease no one else can. They eat tax money from other religious institutions aka HINDU temples coz they TAX the shtee outta temples and TEMPLES ONLY. I can go on and on and on...How'd think Muslims grew in Number in Bharat ? You think they come in peacefully? NOT A SOUL believes that on Planet Earth! Common Andrew, do a better job.