Iranian new president designated Hossein Amirabdollahian as the new Iranian foreign minister. Amirabdollahian may mark critical change in Iranian position in the coming months in nuclear negotiations with western powers.
Iranian new president unveiled a cabinet members’ list on Wednesday. The new cabinet includes a fresh Iranian foreign minister famous for his steady anti-western approaches.
Ebrahim Raisi named Hossein Amirabdollahian for the decisive mission as foreign minister. Over the years, Amirabdollahian has worked in a variety of offices in Iran mostly related with diplomatic missions.
The potential Iranian foreign minister served as deputy in the same ministry in Arab and African affairs office under Ahmadinejad. Hossein Amirabdollahian has also served a three-year term as Iranian ambassador to Bahrain from 2007-2010.
Along with Ahmadinejad, the 56-year-old designated Iranian foreign minister is described as a conservative in Iranian political system. Hossein Amirabdollahian is an ardent anti-Western figure who has links to resistance forces in the Middle East on top of which the Lebanese Hezbollah group.
Hossein Amirabdollahian has yet to receive the verification of parliament to start his career as foreign minister. Due to similar political tendencies with the new administration, there is little chance of any obstacle for him en route.
The Iranian coming foreign minister has close ties with military forces securing a collaboration between two branches of security apparatus. A newly released tape from Javad Zarif, the outgoing foreign minister, revealed serious rifts between foreign minister and military forces. The presence of Amirabdollahian in the office may lead to a stubborner stance by Iran in the coming months.
Iran, the United States, and European powers have been striving to resurrect the nuclear accord following New US president Joe Biden’s takeover of the White House. The change of Power in Iran, nevertheless, has stalled the process since two months ago.
Hossein Amirabdollahian
As the former Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs, Hossein Amirabdollahian is an expert in Middle East issues. Amirabdollahian, close to military forces, is expected to put the regional tensions at the first priority of his agenda.
The new candidate for Iranian foreign ministry has worked on various diplomatic and consultative roles in Iran. From Larijani to Ghalibaf as the parliament speaker, Amirabdollahian was a special adviser on foreign issues. He also served as Director General of International Affairs of the Islamic Consultative Assembly.
The new conservative to-be minister also worked on Palestine issue, a triggering record for Israel. Amirabdollahian served as the Secretary-General of the controversial Conference on Palestine and Intifada. The Palestine Strategic Dialogue Quarterly once knew him as the managing director.
Analysts believe that part of Iranian stance on critical issues in Iraq, Syria, wet Asia, and north Africa took form under the influence of Hossein Amirabdollahian. He might be the first foreign minister whose policies at the office find the best support from military groups.
Such a collaboration inside Iran might impose itself on the regional developments of the Middle East. Recent escalation of tensions in Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman following the drone attacks and suspicious hijack of some vessels might take different meaning en route. Amirabdollahian’s outspoken stance against Israel might impact Israel’s adventure in the region.
Iran also faces the decisive negotiation for the revival on JCPOA in the coming months. The new president Ebrahim Raisi asserted in his inauguration that does his best to relieve the sanctions against Iran. Hossein Amirabdollahian, like other conservatives, had negative views regarding the original version of JCPOA. Biden’s administration’s insistence on revival of the nuclear deal might put the White House on the weak position considering Iran’s new approaches.
