Fereydon Majlessi: It is time to clarify the task of a peaceful future for the Middle East region in the form of an international conference

Fereydoun Majlessi, Shafaqna, 20 April 2024

English version: The Persian Bridge of Friendship

Fereydoun Majlessi, a former Iranian diplomat says that before it reaches the desired results of each side, the war in the Middle East will lead to killing, destruction and to the situation that happened to the unfortunate and helpless people in Gaza. Majlessi believes that we have all seen this devastation and hopes that it will be a lesson for the rest of the people of the region. The issue of Gaza is injustice, but it is in the form of Israeli-Palestinian and Arab relations. In his view, it is time to clarify the task of a peaceful future for this region in the form of an international conference with the participation of regional powers, that would end this 75-year-old and costly war in the Middle East.

I have always been interested in peace, tranquillity and movement on the path of Iran’s economic, industrial and social development. I consider this development as a guarantee of support for the development of national security and defence. When a country is poor and backward, it loses the ability to maintain its security and prepare its defence.

In recent years, Iran has spent a lot of money on developing its security facilities, which I hope will be maintained. These developments have shown that the competitor is not as capable as it was thought. I hope that the recent incident (the Iranian-Israeli exchange of attacks – note by the translator) will lead to a peaceful conclusion on both sides in the whole region and not to a war.

War will lead to killing and destruction before it leads to the desired results for each side, and to the situation that happened to the unfortunate and helpless people of Gaza.

We have seen the situation and I hope it will be a lesson for other people in the region. The issue of Gaza is an injustice, but it is an injustice in the form of Israeli-Palestinian and Arab relations. It is time to clarify the task of a peaceful future for this region in the form of an international conference with the participation of regional powers and to end this 75-year-old and costly war. If we keep returning to what has happened in history, the endless wars and conflicts will continue and the backwardness of the nations of the Middle East region will continue.

Today, when the myth of Israel’s invincibility has been abandoned, in a situation where the Israeli people are also forced to think about their future, a preparation must emerge for them to agree to a peaceful reunification in such a conference.

If they want a peaceful life in this region, they must give the Palestinian lands to the Palestinian people in the form of a resolution, leave the occupied settlements in the West Bank and they should give privileges to the Arabs.

Iran should return to the international arena through concessions, especially the lifting of sanctions. Iran’s banking problems should be solved in the international arena and the focus should be on economic and social development within its borders. Iran should be able to benefit from opportunities by establishing close relations with all its neighbours, which are the richest markets in the world, instead of relying on hostility and enmity. 

By staying away from the wealth of its oil neighbours, Iran sees the biggest economic losses in the world, leaving the oil capacity and wealth opportunities to countries like China and Turkey. Iran’s oil and gas infrastructure can be used to appear as a competitive option in the region by settling the issues of war and the damage that the parties can inflict on each other. It should be known that the time has come for the parties to live together in a fair and secure manner. Iran can play a role in this direction and gain importance and prestige. Iran should be present in the international arena with a dignified status.

Subscribe to Cross-border Talks’ YouTube channel! Follow the project’s Facebook and Twitter page! And here is the podcast’s Telegram channel!

Like our work? Donate to Cross-Border Talks or buy us a coffee!

About The Author

Fereydoun Majlessi

Fereydoun Majlessi is a former Iranian diplomat, who served in Washington DC and in Brussels in the European community before the Iranian Revolution in 1979. At present he is a freelance journalist, columnist and a foreign policy expert. He has also translated into Persian languages famous novels by Robert Graves and Gore Vidal. Majlessi himself is the author of an Iranian novel about the legendary Shah Shapur II.

See author's posts