Iran, More Asian than Ever
By former Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran Mohsen Aminzadeh
Iran in Asia and Middle East
Iran and Egypt are two ancient civilizations that have deeply influenced mankind’s culture and civilization. These two civilizations, Iran among the westernmost countries of Asia and Egypt among northernmost countries of Africa, find a common identity in a very important region with the conventional name of Middle East.
For Asians Middle East is a communication route for Europe, for Muslims it is the site of their holy land and birthplace of Islam and, and of course nowadays Middle East is the most precarious political regions of the world.
Europeans were interested in this region because of its geographical situation. Dominant geopolitical doctrines considered domination over this region necessary in order to obtain global power.
During the past century crude oil and gas gave Middle East another reason for importance and this region turned into the biggest exporter of crude oil and gas in the world. This once again increased the strategic importance of the region.
Historical maps of the region show Iran more clearly as a wide bridge between Persian Gulf and the Caspian Sea and the only appropriate overland route for communication between Europe and Asia.
That’s why trade between Asia and Europe and of course between Asia and the Ottoman Empire has made up a substantial portion of Iran’s economy and many Iranians were engaged in commerce.
Since the Ottoman Empire collapsed, although the term ‘Middle East’ was defined by Europeans but it still spoke of a reality and that was a region for Europe-Asia communication. After Islamic countries relatively settled, Middle East gained more importance because of its holy Islamic lands. With the developments of the 20th century, emergence of Israel and Palestine crisis, Middle East meant something more for Muslims. It became more important for them, meanwhile being one of the precarious regions of the world and it is still in the same situation.
Due to its special geographical position in west of Asia and east of Middle East, Iran has had the chance to define its relationship with both Asia and Middle East in a similar way and it has always preferred to enjoy both identities, Asian and Middle Eastern.
Iran wants to be Middle Eastern so that it can be one of the important countries of the region and at the same time demonstrate its vicinity to Europe and position as bridge between East and West. Also it wants to be Asian to position itself among ancient cultures and civilizations of Asia as a country with a rich culture and old civilization and enjoy contacts with other ancient cultures and civilizations.
Iranians’ conception of Europeans, just like many other eastern countries, has two opposite aspects. In previous centuries Europeans had been the invading colonialists of Islamic countries and their colonialist, interventionist role has been their main negative feature according to Asians.
Meanwhile for centuries Europeans have moved in the progress course and particularly during the past two centuries, major European countries have further increased their distance with current developing countries, including Islamic countries such as Iran and Egypt which are heirs to two of the most ancient and durable civilizations. During the 20th century Europe’s progress in economy, politics, culture, science and technology has been its appealing face.
Iranians have taken different and sometimes contradictory views on Europe. For them, Europe has been the land of colonialism and development.
Despite being the only state of Middle East that remained independent during the history and never was a colony –one of small group of such countries in Asia-, Iran has never been intact from destructive interferences of European countries, especially Britain and Russia.
In the past two centuries these powers separated parts of Iran’s territory forever and their meddling caused bitter events in the history of Iran, which have led to acute crises and irremediable problems in the course of Iranians’ progress.
At the same time, Europe is the land of development for Iranians since during the last two centuries, more and more Iranians have found that changes are taking place overseas and Europeans are undertaking Muslim and Eastern countries unprecedentedly.
Gradually not only Iranians got interested in economy, industry and production of Europe and tried to imitate it, but tended to follow Europeans in all aspects and representations of development and progress.
Learning from and even imitating Europe in industry and technology has been admitted by all. But imitation has received severe reactions when it comes to roots of Europe’s development and use of their experience. This tendency has faced harsh criticisms from those opposed to westernization and xenophilia and actually due to inconsistence between roots of development in West and Iran’s culture; processes stemmed from Europeans experience have faced serious obstacles. This fact can be realized in similar forms in Iran, Egypt and some other important Muslim countries.
In post-revolution early years, Iran became Middle Eastern more than ever. This was not because of its vicinity with Europe and not because its transit routes had become appealing, but because the country was paying more attention to its common interests with Middle East Muslims and more than before it sensed a shared feeling towards the most important crisis of Middle East, i.e. Palestine. Also it felt more affinity with Arab states of Middle East that mainly followed a different branch of Islam.
Of course understanding identity of Iranian regime and its new circumstances were easy for Western countries. Islamic-revolutionary stances overriding political stances and new political stances overriding economic, social and cultural features of development resulted in Iran facing towards Islamic-revolutionary identity, values and beliefs and reconstruction of its identity within the Islamic society rather than focusing on development.
Iran adopted a religious tone after the Islamic revolution and endeavored to take in unity between Muslims and actually moved towards reinforcing this unity. More than ever it stressed Muslims’ identity and asked for their seeking of greater dignity and power while preserving Islamic identity.
Although these beliefs and hopes changed in nature after Iraq’s attack, later Iran initiated reconciliation and even tried to differentiate Saddam from other Middle Easterners, even wealthy countries that fully supported Iraq in this war and of course the great nation of Iraq and move towards closer relations of Muslims of the world, especially those of Middle East.
Iran’s Current Conception of Asia
Nearly three decades after the Islamic revolution and 2 decades after the end of war with Iraq, Soviet Union’s dissolution and end of the Cold War, Iran –in addition to maintenance of its ties to Middle East- more than ever wishes to be known as an Asian country. That’s because circumstances of development have changed in Iran and Asia.
In addition to cultural and civilizational compatibility of its great countries, Asia has development as its defining feature.
Asia is not the most populated poor continent anymore and the course of development especially in its most populated countries, i.e. China and India -that are heirs to great civilizations- has altered the image of this continent. The phenomenal growth rate and its impact on global growth, unbelievable economic leaps and global competition in production etc. are in the center of attention nowadays.
Successful development projects in Asia are gradually becoming a model for all developing countries and the rate of development in these countries has raised the hope for development in apparently impossible circumstances. During the recent decades, Asian countries such as Japan, South Korea and especially India and China have increased their share in global economy.
The 55 percent share of G8 countries in 1975 (48 percent minus Russia and Canada) has fallen to 44 percent in 2005. During these years share of the Asian countries minus Middle East has risen to 25 percent from the previous 11 percent. Share of the African and Latin American countries has remained unchanged and that of Middle East and Soviet Republics has had a sharp fall.
Circumstances of development in Asia and post-war Iran have drawn Iran and other Asian countries closer. Here are the reasons:
1. Development in Asia comes with great need of energy. In fact the most insatiable demand for energy comes from Asia. It is predicted that by the following trend the demand for crude oil will reach more than 110 million barrels per day. That means 25 to 30 million barrels more than now.
More than 80 percent of this demand belongs to developing countries especially Asian countries. On the other hand Iran is one of the seldom countries that because of its extraordinary political situation doesn’t have any firm commitments to traditional markets of Europe and United States. So it can devote attention to Asia particularly when Asian energy market is more lucrative for energy suppliers in compare with European and American market.
Such sort of compatibilities are the reason that after the dissolution of Soviet Union and rising of tensions between Iran and America, oil export to Asian countries holds a significant portion of Iran’s total export and has risen from 30 percent to 70 percent in two decades. During this period export to Japan has doubled and export to other countries has become 2.5 fold. Economic and financial benefits of export to Asian market along with political reasons that have sent Iran off the American market have build up a close relationship between Iran oil production and Asian customers.
2. Iran is in need of modern technology and industries and to access that it has to extend its ties with industrial countries. Although except Japan, Asian countries are not at the level of Western European countries and the United States, considering Iran’s multiple problems with United States and (to some extent) Europe and higher flexibility of Asian countries, they become the best options for cooperation. Particularly in current stage of development Iran’s technological needs can be provided by second-class technologies of countries such as Japan, South Korea, China and India. Additionaly, providing ones technological needs from Asia will lower the cost of many industrial projects that have approximately the same quality as Western equivalents. Therefore industrial cooperation with Asian countries will lower the cost of development of Iran.
3. After Soviet Unions dissolution Iran has been placed in a unique situation and despite its average size, neighbors 15 countries by land and sea. Of these neighbors 4 are European and half-European, seven are Arab-Asian and the rest are Asian.
Today Iran has regained its historical geopolitical importance in transportation and this time, in addition to its role in East-West transportation, the country plays an influential role between its northern neighbors and Persian Gulf states. Consequently it has become a capable country for commercial and industrial cooperation that aim markets of the region. Iran per se is Western Asia’s most appealing market for Asian producers. In addition, its geographical features render it appealing for Asian countries as a broker country with high capability for production and trade in a much larger market in west of Asia and east of Europe.
4. Asians have never interfered and colonized Iran and Middle East. In fact, they haven’t had the power and actually they have been victims of colonialism themselves. Expansionism of Asian countries such as Japan has not gone further than its neighboring countries. Therefore unlike Western countries there are not any concerns about the intention of Asian countries in their relationships with other countries. In this respect, cultural and political interaction of people with Asian countries is much more facile and harmless.
Adopting this view, Iran looks towards Asia as a major strategic partner for development, industry and trade. Mutually Asians look at Iran as an important partner to provide energy and market for their products and services. In fact, economic ties of Iran and Asia are a mutual developmental need.
Also regarding Asia’s rapid development and the way they have surmounted their many problems (that are similar to Iran’s problems) Iran also focuses on Asian developmental model in addition to Western models –and maybe more carefully. With such a mentality, many of the questions raised in development studies concern comparative studies with Asian countries. Of these questions is the cause of deficiencies of development in Iran in comparison with similar or less developed countries.
But it’s a big mistake if we suppose that Iran can direct all its economic ties towards cooperation with Asia and replace Europeans with Asians. Definitely economic relationships with Asia cannot free Iran or other developing countries from scientific and technological relations with Europe and the United States. Not all the scientific and technological needs of Iran, especially fundamental scientific needs can be provided by Asia and they have to be obtained through the markets of developed European countries and United States.
Also Iran’s relations with Asia are highly influenced by its relations with the United States and Europe. Compared with Europeans, Asians are much more influenced by America. Tensions in Iran-West relations impact economic ties between Iran and Asia, despite the high dependence of Asian countries on Iran.
Europeans and Asians’ Attitude towards Iran
A sustained relationship between Middle East countries and Asian and European countries demands mutual understanding and interests. So this basic question must be answered: How do Asian and European countries view Middle East countries today? For bilateral ties aimed towards development Is it enough to be East-West communication route, oil-rich and politically important?
What is the obstacle against sustained developmental relationship between these countries and major countries of Middle East such as Iran and Egypt? Why is investment in Middle East so meager and tiny Persian Gulf states obtain wealth at the price of selling their oil?
Why does Middle East have the worst economic record in global economy? How do investing countries and holders of high technology and industry conceive Middle East and its development?
The answer to these questions doesn’t look so pleasant and the conception of these countries is not that much consistent with the expectations of countries like Iran and Egypt that seek mutual development-based ties with these countries.
Despite all their differences Asia and Europe have common concerns about Middle East and their attitude is affected by some main issues that have become more noticeable in the two last decades. Although a part of these concerns are concocted by the United States and Israel and although Israel is the key problem of Middle East affairs, the status quo of Middle East countries is mainly a result of developments in these societies rather than other countries’ measures.
1. The terrorism that threatens Asia, Europe, America and even Oceania under the name of Islam, has originated in Middle East or at least it has been known to be so by public opinion. This evil phenomenon is the reason why countries have stood against Muslims of Middle East. Particularly after 9/11 this terrorism has served radicalism and militarism across the world and illustrated a violent and dangerous image of Middle East Muslims as the enemies of developed countries or non-muslim developing countries.
This terrorist movement is as dangerous for the United States and Europe as for Russia, China, Indonesia and Australia. Although there’s no doubt about Muslim, terrorist and extremist nature of this phenomenon, the way it has served enemies of Islam in inciting among non-Muslims suspicion, rage and even hatred against Muslims keeps the suggestions open that it is directly or indirectly influenced by enemies of islam.
Blind and insane terrorism that created 9/11 was a great aid for America to reestablish its military dominance, military intervention and militarism in other countries after a period of standstill. It has also largely helped Israel to justify its crimes and disproportion this blind violence done under the name of Islam to distort the legitimate resistance of Palestinians.
2. Another phenomenon that represents a chaotic and volatile image from Muslim countries is the religious differences that often have rose from clashes among Middle East Muslims. Religious clashes among Muslims show a tumultuous image of Muslims’ life; a group which apply violence for both Muslims and non-Muslims and have no tolerance. These especially occur among Sunnis and Shiites and infrequently result in bloody clashes in Pakistan, Afghanistan and other Asian countries and have led to significant affective separation of Muslims,
3. Spread of fundamentalism and inflexibility instead of rationalism is another threat for Muslim world, especially Middle East. These mentalities are as rigid as they’re anti-development. They regard opposition to development and change as resistance against colonialism and foreign interference. With their xenophobic and isolationist behavior they will ultimately waste the opportunity of development and progress for the region.
It’s useless to repeat that the main part of this problem relates to wise foes and fool friends, even if we accept this statement. Enemies of Islam and Muslims have succeeded in convincing public opinion of Western and even Eastern communities to believe their claims against Muslims.
The price of this conception will be paid by Middle East nations. Undoubtedly it’s a responsibility of nations, especially intellectuals and governments of the region to find a way to resolve this crisis.
Today Muslims are in a precarious situation. Islamic countries have been prone to aggression and harm that were a result of colonialist interferences of various powers and superpowers, especially after the formation of Israel. But today they’re not facing the United States, Britain or Israel or all of them together but a global unanimity among non-Muslim countries; even those who have sought for peace and friendship with Muslims and are still seeking peace and development.
This global unanimity has now put Muslims in a difficult situation. Not only it has limited to a large extent the chance to develop and progress, but more than ever it has made intervention of others in affairs of these countries justifiable.
Muslim countries have to manage and direct the process of release from this quandary and contrive to improve the current atmosphere against them. Correct understanding of the precarious situation of Muslim communities is a prerequisite of this process.
Great nations of Iran and Egypt have a heavier responsibility and of course more impact in this respect. Intellectuals and elites of these countries must undertake their historical responsibility and strive for improvement of dignity, honor and position of Muslims and neutralization of malevolent measures.