On May 24, 2011, the members of diplomatic missions from Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Eastern Europe, as the guests of the School of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, visited the Center for Scientific Research and Middle East Strategic Studies and exchanged views with the scientific and executive staff of the Center.

At the beginning of this meeting, Dr. Kayhan Barzegar, the Director of International Affairs and a university professor, talked about the aims, principles, and the scientific achievements of the Center. He then raised some issues such as Iran’s policy about the recent development in the Arab world, the Iran-Turkey relations, as well as Iran’s relations with Russia and China.

Regarding Iran’s policy towards the developments in the Arab world, Dr. Barzegar maintained that Iran is attempting to equate between its “geopolitical” and “value-based” interests. He continued that Iran is a regional power whose interests lie in preserving the status quo and creating stability in the region. In other words, like other regional player, Iran pursues its values and interests within the context of the current political-security order. Regarding the Iran-Turkey relations, Dr. Barzegar mentioned that “geographical attachment” and “bilateral strategic needs” are the two fundamental and effective elements in enhancing mutual relations between these two countries. He concluded that such relations will further continue in the future. Finally regarding Iran’s relations with Russia and China, Dr. Barzegar maintained that despite the Russian and Chinese positive votes to the anti–Iranian UN Security Council Resolution 1929, these countries altogether have mutual economic, political and military interests in working together keeping them to stay close partners in the future.

In addition, Mr. Ali Rostami, a senior researcher at the Center shared his views with the audience especially about the backgrounds of cultural–political relations between Iran and Afghanistan. Referring to Palestinian and Israeli conflict, he maintained that the political-security realities in the region especially after the recent developments in the Arab world will enforce the United States and the Israeli regime to make some concessions to the Palestinians’ rights.

At the end, the visiting members of the diplomatic delegates made some comments and raised various questions about issues such as the situation in Syria and Iran’s policy, the future of Arab-Israeli Peace Process and Iran’s stance on it, and the Iran-U.S. relations and the future of war against terrorism in Afghanistan.