Iran's President-elect Masoud Pezeshkian has expressed his intention to enhance relations with European countries, despite criticizing them for failing to fulfill commitments to alleviate the impact of US sanctions. In an article published in the Tehran Times, Pezeshkian emphasized the importance of engaging in constructive dialogue with Europe based on mutual respect and equality.
He highlighted that there are numerous areas of cooperation to explore once European powers acknowledge the current reality and move past self-arrogated moral superiority and manufactured crises that have strained relations for an extended period.
The backdrop of strained relations stems from the US withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2018, leading to the reimposition of sanctions. European countries had made commitments to Iran to salvage the agreement and mitigate the impact of US sanctions, but Pezeshkian noted that these commitments have not been upheld.
Key commitments included ensuring effective banking transactions, protecting companies from US sanctions, and promoting investments in Iran. Pezeshkian, a trained heart surgeon and lawmaker, won Iran's presidential election, defeating his hardline rival Saeed Jalili.
He has advocated for dialogue with Iran's adversaries, particularly regarding the country's nuclear program, emphasizing that Iran's defense doctrine does not include nuclear weapons. Pezeshkian urged the US to reassess its policies and move away from strategies that pit regional countries against each other.
While Pezeshkian will lead Iran as president, the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, holds the final authority on state matters. Pezeshkian is expected to defer to Khamenei on foreign policy decisions, despite differing views on improving relations with the West.
