The joint virtual meeting between the Institute for Political and International Studies(IPIS) and the Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA) about the regional and international issues was held on Tuesday, December 8 , 2020. The meeting was attended by Dr.Mohammad Kazem Sajjadpour – Deputy Minister of MOFA & President of IPIS, Mr.Majid Ghafelehbashi-Research Deputy at the Cenetr, Ali Khoshroo-Former Iranian Ambassador to UN, Kambiz Sheikh Hassani and Mohsen Mohammadi- Senior Experts at the Studies Center, Hassan Ahmadian-University Prpfessor, Mr.Mike Aaltola- Presdient of FIIA , Ms.Mariette Hagglund,Mr.Kanyarat Vejjajjva and Mikael Wigell – Senior Experts at FIIA.
The mentioned meeting was held in the form of two panels “ the middle east and Persian gulf issues” and “ the JCPOA and the impacts of the US election on the international system and the transatlantic relations” to answer these questions: (1) What are the effects of the US elections on the middle east region? (2) What is the European role in the latest eastern Mediterranean developments? (3) How can the Persian gulf states come to terms with a regional security agreement? (4) What is the role of the transnational forces in the Persian gulf instability and escalation of tensions in the Persian gulf region?(5) What impacts will the US elections have on the international system?( 6) How can the JCPOA influence the latest developments?
Most important topics discussed at this meeting are as follows:
Regional security strategies based on Iran’s proposals and the idea of the Helsinki process for the middle east stress the necessity for cooperation and multilaterism for overcoming all regional and international problems and issues. In this regard, one of the main agents in disturbing the regional balance is the interference from foreign powers which has escalated tensions.
Changes and developments in the US will impact on the European and middle east security frameworks. Middle east security challenges such as the rising terrorism conflict and foreign interference can be settled by focusing on dialogue-centered proposals, resulting in sustainable peace and development of all countries in the region.
Trump administration’s policies and the US unilaterism have weakened multilaterism. In this regard, it is expected that Biden’s election as US president will foster changes in this country’s approaches toward regional and international issues; Changes such as the potential US return to the international agreements including the JCPOA and the Paris climate agreement can be named.
Also, the European states duties to support the JCPOA were discussed and assessed and it was noted that ,with its illegal exit from the agreement, the US sparked tensions in the region. Therefore, the unconditional return of all 5+1 states to the JCPOA agreement and meeting the commitments under the 2231 resolution is one of the main steps to be taken to preserve stability and peace in the region.