Scholar: Iran major player for regional balanc

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Speaking to IRNA, Adel said that a different atmosphere has taken shape in the wake of forming the government of President Hassan Rouhani in the Middle East.He gave credit to the groundbreaking phone call between Rouhani and the US President Barack Obama. He said the Middle East nations are fed up with crisis and Iran is a very important country whose weight must be respected for striking equilibrium of power in the Middle East. He noted that any discord and lack of solidarity will be to the detriment of the Middle East states. Iran and the Arab and Muslim nations should further expand cooperation to maintain calm and security in the region and the entire Muslim world, the scholar said, adding that over the past years, some political wings tried to distort Iranian image among regional states. “Now the opportunity is available to change the tide.” Referring to Iranian message of peace and friendship to the world people, Adel said sending the message is not enough, rather links should be built with the world public opinion through the mass media. “While sending political and friendship messages to the Arab world, Iran can prepare the ground to reach out public opinion in the Arab states. The visit of President Rouhani to an important Arab country of the region, including Saudi Arabia or Egypt, would be highly helpful for the time being.” He said that close relations between Iran and the Arab states should be balanced and on various bases. “The economic, cultural, and social dimensions of the relations should be taken into consideration and policies of Iranian governments must be introduced to scholars and the Arab officials.” As for participation of Iran president at the UN General Assembly in New York and his talks with Obama as well as Iran readiness to normalize ties with all countries based on mutual respect, Adel said that statement of President Rouhani rebuking the western governments for the arbitrary sanctions on Iran was followed by the phone call of the US president which created a different atmosphere in Iran’s favor worldwide and in the Arab world in particular. As for Syria, Adel said Syria is now the arena of chess play of the world powers and the regional states. He said that military action in Syria would not give way to settlement of the Syrian crisis, adding that hope is rising for diplomatic settlement of the Syrian dilemma./149