India and Iran are not in the place they deserve to be in the global order, and they can play a more important and significant role by enhancing their cooperation, according to Mr. Ali Akbar Javanfekr, presidential advisor for press affairs to Mr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the President of Iran.
India and Iran are not in the place they deserve to be in the global order, and they can play a more important and significant role by enhancing their cooperation, according to Mr. Ali Akbar Javanfekr, presidential advisor for press affairs to Mr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the President of Iran.
"We both (India and Iran) need to stop and think whether we are in the right place in our relationship," said Mr. Javanfekr during an interaction with ORF faculty on Tuesday, April 19, 2011 at Observer Research Foundation.
Mr. Javanfekr denounced western socio-cultural dominance and American policies in the Middle East.
Focusing on the role of women in society and how western thoughts are shaping value trends across the globe, Mr. Javanfekr said, "In this western setting, women are getting very violent. The idea of family is losing its essence in the West." He added that homosexuality is becoming fashionable these days and Iran is under tremendous pressure for not supporting it.
He blamed the United States for "Americanising the whole world," and questioned the authenticity of September 11 attacks and the Holocaust. "Events leading to 9/11 are still not clear. They (US) don’t allow anybody to investigate 9/11 and the Holocaust," he said. Indicating towards Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories, he said that there are crimes being committed in the world in pretext of history.
Mr. M Rasgotra, President of ORF Centre for International Relations, who chaired the interaction, agreed with Mr. Javanfekr that India and Iran truly are not in the place they deserve to be. "Our countries are ancient civilisations and have long cultural traditions based on human decency and social values. We share with you these values and regret that the Asian youth is imitating Western traditions," he said. He said
When asked about how Iran views the recent developments in the Middle East, Mr. Javanfekr said: "We are in the middle of a very critical situation. There is an extensive plan being carried out by the Americans and Europeans in the Middle East." He accused the US of hypocrisy for having supported dictators in the region while professing democratic ideals.
"Tahrir was not only an opportunity for the people of Egypt who stood up against a dictator, but was also an opportunity for the US to strengthen its role in the region in the coming decades," he added.
He also criticised Israel’s policy vis-à-vis Palestine and said that Israel and US want to set a pseudo-government in the occupied territories and "wash their hands off." The shifting of Palestinians to Jordanian camps and building settlements in occupied territories is a calculated move by Israel so that future problems are in Arab region and not in territories under Israeli occupation.
In an answer to Iran’s role in Afghanistan, Mr. Javanfekr again criticised the West for using force and enforcement of their ideas. Then he blamed the US for creating Al-qaeda in the first place.
He was quite emphatic about Iran’s relationship with China. He said China was not only interested in investing in Iran but also quite enthusiastic about working with Iran on other issues as well. He said Sino-Iran relations are very good.
He said the US is feeling threatened by the economic rise of China. He also said that although India-Iran trade has increased from US$9 billion to US$14 billion over the last few years, "Indian response to Iranian offer to improve relations is not as good as the Chinese side."
(This report is prepared by Avinash Paliwal, Research Assistant, Observer Research Foundation)
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