Iran's 'gift' is not welcomed by all

Iran's moderate President Hassan Rouhani triumphed over his conservative rival on Saturday, granting him a second term as the country's highest elected official. 

In a victory speech broadcast on national television, Rouhani promised to continue economic reforms and seek dialogue with the world, as Iran moves away from decades of international isolation.

This has been achieved through a controversial deal struck by Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif with the US and other world powers. Tehran agreed to curb its nuclear ambitions and in return international sanctions on Iran were lifted.

On Monday, Zarif penned an opinion piece for The New Arab, entitled "Iran is ready to gift peace to the Middle East" and provided Tehran's perspective on events in the region.

Zarif explained that Iran is committed to fighting "terror" in the Middle East and reaffirmed Tehran's role in supporting the Syrian regime against opposition forces.

There is little to celebrate in the six-year war, which has had a brutalising effect on Syria's population. Over 500,000 - mostly civilians - have been left dead and half the population uprooted, with almost all the carnage caused by Damascus' barrel bombs and artillery. 

Iranian proxy forces have filled the void in the regime's military ranks, which have been decimated by casualties and desertions. Others say that Tehran's actions elsewhere in the Arab world have also heightened tensions with its regional neighbours.

In response to Zarif's opinion piece, we also published "On Iran's booby trapped gift" by al-Araby al-Jadeed's Opinion Editor Maen al-Bayari.

In it, Bayari looks to counter some of the assertions made by the Iranian foreign minister about Tehran's positive role as a "peacemaker" in the region.

We hope you enjoy both pieces.



You can read Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif's opinion piece here.