The Institute for Political and International Studies (IPIS) hosted a joint webinar of Iran and Jordan, entitled “Iran and Jordan; World Affected by Coronavirus Pandemic and Regional Developments” on Tuesday, August 18, 2020, under the auspices of the Jordan-based Arab Institute for Security Studies (ACSIS). The speakers at the online meeting were Seyed Mohammad Kazem Sajjadpoor, president of the IPIS; Saeed Khatibzadeh, head of the Iranian Foreign Ministry’s Center for Public and Media Diplomacy; Seyed Majid Ghafelebashi, IPIS vice-president for research, Mojtaba Ferdowsipoor, senior fellow at the IPIS and Iran’s former ambassador to Jordan; Hassan Ahmadian, professor at the University of Tehran; Kayhan Barzegar, university professor of international relations; Ayman Khalil, director of the ACSIS; Hamadeh Faraneh, university professor; and Dhaher al-Damen, the editor of Jordan’s Al Ra’i newspaper.
The main topic for discussion in the first part of the webinar was “bilateral relations in the world affected by coronavirus pandemic and the consequences” in order to answer the following questions: How will the post-coronavirus world be? Will the pandemic have systematic impacts on international relations, or will the world be facing just another short-term challenge?
The main theme in the second part of the webinar was the “regional developments and issues with the focus on Iraq, Syria and Palestine” and included discussions on the prospect of peace process in the occupied territories considering the Zionist regime’s illegal annexation of the West Bank.
The main topics discussed in the meeting were as follows:
Iran and Jordan have common culture, beliefs, history and interests. Thus, Iran believes that cooperation between Iran and Jordan would guarantee stability and security of the two nations, the region and the Muslim world. The geopolitical issues have been always a major factor in Iran-Jordan relations. The bilateral relations in various fields such as parliamentary and economic cooperation have had ups and downs, but have come with mutual respect. The regional countries, particularly Iran and Jordan, have no option but to promote relations and friendship, as it is necessary to enhance the bilateral ties, build trust, and work on economic, cultural, scientific and academic exchanges. Another potential field for cooperation between the two countries is the fight against terrorism and extremism. Unlike the other nations, Iran has been facing the problem of illegal and inclusive US sanctions in the battle with the coronavirus. Nevertheless, Iran has been able to overcome the critical conditions of the early days after the coronavirus outbreak. By managing the situation and the facilities, Iran has now contained the disease at home and is also assisting its neighboring countries. Iran is exporting medical supplies to Germany and other countries in the world. Jordan also managed to control the coronavirus outbreak very well and has recorder very low death toll from the disease. The regional countries can overcome all problems, including the coronavirus, through collective cooperation.
Disputes between the regional countries, including perceptions of the Islamic Revolution, must be resolved with close cooperation and dialogue within the framework of a definite mechanism to prevent interference from the extra-regional countries in such strategic field. Iran’s strategic logic is directly linked with its national security, as its regional presence is a result of such strategy. Iran has always sought peace and cooperation with the regional Arab states. The improvement of ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia, as two influential countries, would benefit the Islamic community and the regional countries. The Jordan-Israel Peace Treaty has not relieved the Jordanian government and nation’s hatred for the Zionist regime. Israel is the archenemy of the regional countries and the liberation of Jerusalem (al-Quds) is the basic cause of the Islamic world. The regional nations always uphold the right of Palestinians to enjoy their legitimate rights. The Israeli annexation of the West Bank reveals the aggressive nature of the Zionist regime and proves that the only way for confrontation with that regime in the region is resistance.