The Iranian four-track-parallel foreign policy has confused Saudi Arabia

First Published 2006-12-15, Last Updated 2006-12-15 09:14:08, http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/

The Iranian four-track-parallel foreign policy has confused Saudi Arabia
The vague foreign policy of Iran has been able to deceive and confuse nearly all leaders of the world specifically the Arab leaders, says Reza Hossein Borr.

The Iranian regime always had a four-track-parallel foreign policy to influence the most important groups in the Arab world and Saudi Arabia. Each track has its own approach and perception of the region and Iran. The objective of the Iranian multiple intentions-multiple targets and multiple outcomes policy is to confuse the decision-makers in the Arab world and stop them from formulating an effective approach towards Iran.

The Iranian regime communicates its multiple track confusing foreign policies through different channels. The supreme leader is the main communicator of the source of confusion. He gives multiple signals that appeal to a wide variety of audience. His messages intend to inspire pride in the Iranian people and prejudice against adversaries.

The Iranian President communicates directly with the Arab masses. He uses simple words that generate vigour and energy in simple people who cannot understand the complexity of the Iranian mind. He targets the most important beliefs and aspirations of Moslems. He uses Islamic ideology to infiltrate their belief system and uses military language to intrude into the heart and feelings of the people on the streets. He portrays Shia religion as the source of invincibility that campaigns for the realisation of goals of all Moslems. He injects a kind of feeling of righteousness in others about himself. He implies that his righteousness comes from his Shia religious beliefs. He implies that if everybody was a revolutionary Shia militia with strong faith in the power of Islam, eradication of Israel and the restoration of Islamic glory will be very easy.
The Moslems and Arabs and specifically the Saudi Arabian Arabs are craving for glory and pride. They are craving for somebody who speaks their suppressed feelings and untold aspirations. Ahmadinejad's rhetoric is in dire contrast with Saudi Arabian leaders who follow a quiet policy.

The journalists are affected in the same way. They have to reflect the public opinions in their reports. Thus, Ahmadinejad's opinions appear in Arab media. When the Arab masses see that their opinions have been reflected in the media they believe in their own opinions that somehow have been generated by Ahmadinejad. The Arab masses face unconsciously the choice between their own leaders and Ahmadinejad. It is evident that Ahmadinejad reflects their opinions and therefore, a feeling of affinity and admiration towards him is generated in them.
The next channel of communication is carried out by the Iranian foreign minister. He travels to different countries and draws a new version of Iranian foreign policy which partly confirms Ahmadinejad's messages and partly rejects them. He demonstrates the friendly version of confusing foreign policy that can positively affect the foreign ministers of Islamic and Arab world. He implies that Ahmadinejad's speeches are designed for the Iranian masses and have not to be taken seriously by the leaders of other countries. He portrays Ahmadinejad as a person who has no control over his feelings and ideas and therefore speaks without considering diplomatic protocols.

The Iranian foreign minister communicates a foreign policy version that manifests friendliness in mutual relationships. He tries to demonstrate Iranian good will in establishing and promoting cultural and commercial relationships.
He wants to build trust to cover the real objectives that are carried out by the Iranian security forces.

The next channel of communication of total deception is presented by two former presidents: Hashemi Rafsanjani and Khatami. These two are the masters of disguising the truth. They pretend to be the main sources of decision-making. They talk about Islamic brotherhood and dialogue of civilisations. They are the Rasputins of Islamic Republic of Iran. They target intellectuals, media, journalists, think tanks as well as politicians. They go to different universities and international organisations to portray the Iranian revolution as a just revolution that seeks justice and equality for all the people of the world. They want to prove that they have already implemented the principles and values of Islam in Iran and consequently, they have created a heaven on earth in the Iranian land. They are keen to give every assurance to people of the world and specifically to the Arabs that Iran is a peaceful country and seeks peace and justice for everyone.

While these channel of communications try to fool the Arabs the revolutionary guards and security forces are fully engaged in exporting revolution, reviving Shia nationalism and sponsoring terrorism.

The Iranian regime has been engaged in multiple track foreign policy behaviour. While the religious leaders have tried to secure the trust of the Arabs through promoting Islamic values and principles in the Arab lands, the Iranian intelligence services have formulated and implemented the real Iranian foreign policy which is influencing the Shias and those Sunnis who are frustrated from the present situation.

This vague foreign policy of Iran has been able to deceive and confuse nearly all leaders of the world specifically the Arab leaders. The Arab leaders are Sunnis and naturally believe in what they hear specifically if it comes from those people who look credible. The religious leaders in the eyes of the Sunnis are credible people that have to be believed and respected. The Iranian religious leaders have understood the honesty of the Arab people and Arab leaders and they have taken full advantage of it. The Iranian leaders have pledged to prevent terrorist activities against the Arab governments but have not honoured them. They believe that the Arab leaders are tyrants (zaalem) and therefore the pledge is not bounding. The Arabs have not been able to understand the complexity of the Iranian Shia mind. They have not been able to recognise the mask which covers the devil.

The present confusion among the Arab leaders and specifically Saudi Arabian leaders has created dangerous differences of opinion and even dispute among them. The Iranian government has succeeded in creating divisions among the Arab rulers which naturally would result in indecisiveness. Today some officials in Saudi Arabian government believe that Iran has good intentions and some others believe that the Iranian regime has created Shia crescent to assert Shia supremacy.

Making right decisions must come from clarity of understanding of accurate data. The data that the Arab governments receive from Iran are vague and confusing and therefore, they are not able to make decisions to prevent Iran from further intrusion. It was hard for many Arab leaders to believe that the Iranian officials have systematically misguided them through well-designed lies and deceptive strategies.

The Iranian government has always denied interfering in the affairs of the Arab world and yet everybody is convinced today that Iran is creating civil wars in Iraq, Palestine and Lebanon.
The most important Arab country is Saudi Arabia that has the resources to encounter the Iranian threat but the Iranian regime has been able to split the Saudi Arabian ruling family. Some of the members of ruling family have been confused so much that they cannot believe that Iran is behind all the explosive conditions in the Middle East. Some others are convinced that Iran is the main element of the destabilisation in the Arab world. The vagueness of Iranian foreign policy has created so much darkness that it is difficult to reach the clarity of understanding of relationship between Iran and the Arab world.

It took the United States about 25 years to understand that the Iranian leaders are deceptive. The European leaders are still confused but they are not the main targets of Iranian fundamentalism. The Arab countries are the main targets of Iranian extremism and fundamentalism. Iran has already generated sufficient violence in Iraq, Palestine and Lebanon.
Can the governments of the Arab world understand the real objectives of Iranian government and formulate new policies to encounter the dangerous threat that looms over their heads?
If the leaders of Saudi Arabia continue to be receptive to the confusion that has been imposed on them, the Iranian regime will move in the heart of the Arab world.

Reza Hossein Borr is a leadership consultant and the creator of 150 CDs. He is also the author of Manual Success, Manual of Coaching and Mentoring, Motivational Stories that Can Change Your Life, and a New Vision for the Islamic World.

He can be contacted by email: sarawani@aol.com
© Copyright, 2006 London