The Iran Card in the East-West Game

Following the establishment of the missile system in Romania and completion of its cycle in Poland and Turkey, NATO and the West stated that they have reached certainty with regard to missile defense. This measure was faced with Russian reactions. This is not a good excuse and no strategist in the international scene could believe it. The US, Europe, NATO, Russia, China and other countries of the world know well that the West’s missile system against the East has always been established after WWII and decreased following the collapse of the bipolar system of the world. Later and during recent years, when the challenges between Russia and the West have formed one side and the challenge between the US and China, on the other side, has become more serious, both sides have made attempts to revive the same structures of the Cold War era. But unfortunately, the West uses Iran’s card to justify its actions against the East. A few years ago, when the first part of this system was established in Poland, Russia became angry and the West used Iran as the reason behind its measure. This is while all experts know that neither is this system established to fight against Iran, nor does Iran intend to use missiles against the West, including Europe.

During the past two centuries, Iran and Europe have always stood next to each other and were considered as partners. Iran and Europe have no conflict and, on the contrary and based on their common national interests and security, have formed a united front against global terrorism. In fact, Iran’s resistance against ISIS and other terrorists in Syria, Iraq, … safeguards the national security of European countries. Iran is not North Korea to use its missile development against the West. Iran completes its missile defense system to defend its territorial integrity and safeguard its national interests in an ocean of threats in the Middle East. Iran has a deep culture and long history and as a nation-state has the responsibility to protect world peace including peace in the Middle East. What the West expresses about its concern regarding Iran’s missile attacks is, in fact, the same Iranophobia which, for decades, has been used as propaganda against Iran and is now a psychological obstacle in lifting sanctions against Iran.

Recently, Iran’s Supreme Leader has, several times, reiterated this point. It was not only the West which, during the last decades, has used Iran’s card to propagate Iranophobia to frighten the East, the East has also taken advantage of this card to gain concessions from the West, particularly the US.

Now the question is, how long will the West use Iran’s card against the East and vice versa? What characteristics does Iran have which lead to such possibility for the East and the West? Why doesn’t Iran use its card for its own interests? Why doesn’t Iran act in a way so that its card could not be taken advantage of by these blocs? What is our role in neutralizing Iranophobia in all its aspects in the world? Although answering these questions needs separate articles, it suffices to say that the axis of the present excuse of the West in establishing its missile system in Europe based on Iran’s threat is somehow related to the unprofessional propaganda of Iran’s missile development which could give excuses to the other side in its propagation of Iranophobia.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry should immediately reject the West’s accusations and negate Iranophobia and not allow the integrity of Iran and Iranians to be taken advantage of by either West or East.