Why it matters:
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf says Iran must move beyond formal diplomacy and activate provincial-level engagement to strengthen its geopolitical role and counter Western dominance.
The big picture:
Iran has increasingly promoted “provincial diplomacy” as a way to circumvent sanctions, deepen regional ties, and decentralize foreign policy implementation.
Key points:
- “A country with Iran’s geopolitical position cannot limit its foreign policy to formal relations alone,” he said.
- Ghalibaf cited China, Turkey, India, and Central Asian states as examples of countries that have amplified national power by engaging cities and regions in economic diplomacy.
- He emphasized Iran’s potential to serve as a regional and global hub for multilateral cooperation alongside strategic partners like China and Russia, particularly in areas of technology, trade, and resistance to unilateralism.
- Ghalibaf condemned U.S. trade policies as coercive and discriminatory, saying:
- “Nations no longer accept this monopoly. The failure of the U.S. and Europe to activate the illegal snapback mechanism, and the formal opposition of two permanent Security Council members, signal the emergence of a new global order, one where decisions are no longer made in a single capital.”
Go deeper:
Iran Says Won’t Resume Nuclear Talks Unless U.S. Drops “Excessive Demands”
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