Reza Zabihi, in an interview with the website of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, also referred to the news regarding the visit of senior officials of the Biden administration to the Middle East to consult with some countries in order to reduce their concerns about the US return to the JCPOA, adding: In the short period that the JCPOA was implemented, it was able to remove some of the hurdles and obstacles that existed on the path of Iran’s economic development, or at least put it on the path of improvement and removal.

He assessed the concern of some countries in the region as a result of their competitive view of Iran to secure their national interests in the Persian Gulf and said: After the agreement of the JCPOA, due to the breach of the US agreement on its strict implementation, there were still obstacles to economic development. Nevertheless, a review of all statistics shows that there was good mobilization in the country’s economic situation.

Regional states concerned about removal of obstacles to Iran’s economic development

The university professor said that gradual reduction of obstacles to Iran’s economic development caused false concerns in some countries in the region, adding: They thought that Iran’s economic development might reduce their opportunities in those areas. This view led to the perception that tensions between Iran and the West were in their favor, and since the JCPOA greatly reduced those tensions, they were reluctant to support the JCPOA and considered its conclusion and continuation to be a matter of concern.

The expert on international affairs described the approach of some countries in the region as a “zero-sum game” and stressed that some of them did not believe in a “positive sum game” and those concerns persisted to the point that even Barack Obama, the then President of the United States, during the conclusion of the JCPOA, said that those countries must accept that Iran also has a share in the region!

Security and military issues, one of the major concerns of countries in the region

Zabihi added that one of the main concerns of the countries in the region is security and military issues, adding: There was a misconception that improving Iran’s economic situation would lead to more investment by Iran in military and security issues against those countries. Of course, the passage of time has shown and will show that most of those concerns are unwarranted and false, and those countries will see that taking steps to interact and improve relations with Iran will have many benefits for the national interests of both parties, stability and security in the region.

The university professor added: Now, while negotiations are underway to revive the JCPOA, different words are heard from Saudi Crown Prince Bin Salman. This change of tone is quite noticeable in the Saudi authorities, and if in practice we see a change in procedure, we can hope that relations between Iran and the countries in the region will improve in the national interests of all parties.

The expert on international affairs reminded that Iran has always welcomed negotiation on regional issues with the presence of the countries present in it and the non-interference of trans-regional countries, and said: Those positive developments can begin with direct and direct negotiations between Iran and countries in the region and then lead to a common understanding between the parties on various issues in the region.

Zabihi added: Although the parties may have differences of view and outlooks in some cases, there are many common interests based on which the achievement of those understandings can be considered more serious and more rooted.

He referred to the visit of foreign minister and his talks with officials of some countries, as well as published news about possible talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia, and said: At the moment, the atmosphere seems to be moving in a more positive direction and there is the hope that we will see more appropriate positions from our neighbors.

Countries in the region concerned about US inattention

Referring to some reports that senior US officials may travel to the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan to relieve concerns about the US return to the JCPOA, Zabihi continued: They consider themselves long-standing economic and security partners of the West and are concerned that this agreement would make the West less concerned about maintaining their security and leave them alone in the face of Iran. Certainly they raise this concern with the United States.

According to the expert on international affairs; Biden’s America, not Trump’s America, wants to assure them that ‘our relationship will continue as it was in the past and we will support you’, while acknowledging that the existence of the JCPOA is more in their security interests than its absence; because the West believes that with the JCPOA, Iran will not go for nuclear weapons, and if the countries of the region accompany the revival of the JCPOA, it will be more in their interest in terms of security.

Zabihi reminded that while the negotiations for the conclusion of the JCPOA were underway, the American officials met with the officials of the Arab countries in the Persian Gulf region and made encouraging talks. They emphasized that the JCPOA agreement could also benefit the Arab states in the region.

He added: Of course, in recent days, a high-ranking Israeli military and security delegation has traveled to the United States and expressed its deep concern to Biden over the return of the United States to the JCPOA. In fact, Israel and the countries of the region have common concerns about this issue, of course, Israel also has existential and security concerns and considers itself a partner with the countries of the region.

Change in the direction of normalization of relations with Israel

Referring to the Trump administration’s efforts to pressure some countries to reveal relations with Israel, Zabihi said: After the victory of the Democrats, there is no previous pressure to normalize relations with Israel and they may reconsider their close relations with Israel. Because in any case, those countries must also consider their public opinion; many people in those countries do not agree with that measure.

In conclusion, the university professor stating that peace and stability in the region requires cooperation of effective countries in the region, added: Of course, we must try to change the attitude of the countries in the region towards ourselves.