Iran’s Elite Reconciliation at Home, and Outreach to the Arab World

Unofficial mouthpieces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps seldom praise Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. On the contrary, many a foreign minister have fallen victim to the machinations of the IRGC and its network. Nevertheless, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who previously, in his capacity as nuclear negotiator, was the target of the IRGC media, is now the subject of panegyric articles in Javan newspaper, the most official among the IRGC’s multiple mouthpieces. Javan also appears to be warming to Iran’s regional rival Saudi Arabia, yet at times, there are glimpses of the iron fist under the velvet glove: Javan has not only used “reactionary” to describe the ruling houses of Arab states but has also accused them of encouraging Israel’s behavior in Gaza and Lebanon with their silence. Javan even outright stated that President Masoud Pezeshkian threatened that Iran will respond “proportionately” if the Arab states allow their airspace or military bases to be used in attacks against Iran. 

• October 10: Javan newspaper praised Araghchi’s diplomatic efforts: 
  • “There was a time when the field of diplomacy and the battleground were perceived as distinct, and many a political game were played centering around this duality. Today, however, the false duality is gone. When the late Hussein Amir-Abdollahian,” the former foreign minister who was killed along with the president in a May helicopter crash, “entered the arena … he brought the Foreign Ministry back into the rail of pursuing the regime’s objectives … Now, Seyyed Abbas Araghchi too is showing that he is moving along this honorable and principled path.” 
  • “The peak of Araghchi’s diplomatic effort was his visit to Beirut, onboard a plane carrying humanitarian aid to Lebanon at a time when the Zionist regime was conducting air operations against Lebanon … Next, Araghchi visited Syria.”  
  • “Araghchi’s diplomacy toward the West is proactive … To the extent Iran’s interests dictate, he negotiates, and, if not, the West receives a powerful response from him. His conversations with foreign ministers of Britain, France, the Netherlands, and other countries regarding the missile attack of the Islamic Republic of Iran … provide examples of powerful responses.”  
• October 10: In a separate article, Javan newspaper reported on Araghchi’s visit to Riyadh: 
  • “At a time when Benjamin Netanyahu, prime minister of the Zionist regime, is being adventurous in Lebanon, in an attempt to expand the scope of the war against the axis of resistance, Iran, besides establishing deterrence through the Operation Truthful Covenant II,” referencing Iran’s October 1 missile attack against Israel, “is, with help from Islamic countries, engaged in containing the unhinged regime to bring back stability and calm to the region.” 
  • “Visiting Saudi Arabia, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi emphasized: ‘Islamic countries are engaged in a concerted effort. Iran’s policy is to support the resistance. This is a fundamental policy that will not be abandoned. If there is consultation, it is in order to stop the crimes,” of Israel. “On many occasions, we have declared that Iran does not want to increase tensions, although we do not fear war and are ready for any scenario. Our armed forces are fully prepared.” 
  • “This visit comes in the wake of President Masoud Pezeshkian’s visit to Qatar, where he also met Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan.” 
  • “In recent days, Iran told the Arab states of the region that any move against Tehran by a country in the Persian Gulf region, be it use of their airspace or military bases, will be perceived as a threat by Tehran and that Iran will respond to it proportionately.” 
  • “One of the reasons behind continued crimes of the Zionist regime in Gaza and, more recently, in Lebanon, is the silence of reactionary Arab countries, which did not do anything to stop the war machine of this regime. With their silence, they encouraged Tel Aviv to continue its slaughter … If Israel’s savagery is not stopped in Gaza and Lebanon, other Arab states will also be subject to Israeli aggression.” 

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