Rouhani to the UN: “Iran Will Lead the Fight Against Extremism”

Addressing the UN General Assembly today, President Hassan Rouhani told the international community that they must work together to combat extremism. “We should muster all of our strength against extremism and violence,” he warned, “or else tomorrow the world will not be safe for anyone.” But it wasn’t the West that was best placed to lead the initiative, he said, it was Iran and other moderates in the region.

On the eve of the speech, there was widespread speculation about what Iran’s leader would say to the world. Most predicted that he would peg his speech to the Islamic State crisis and ongoing nuclear discussions, as well as the crucial issue of easing sanctions. But would he mention the internet and cultural freedom? Would he dare to discuss collaboration with Western countries?

The situation in Iraq and the neighboring region commanded most of his attention. He blamed “certain” countries for allowing terrorism to spread and for creating a dangerous climate for every nation in the world. "Certain intelligence agencies have put blades in the hands of madmen,” he said. He accused the so-called “leaders” of the international coalition of using the current crisis as an opportunity to assert their influence in the region – a comment that echoed Ayatollah Khamenei’s recent statement on the same theme, issued only hours after his release from hospital. Yet, as Trita Parsi, director of the National Iranian American Council, pointed out, he refrained from direct attacks on the US or any other country. “Those expecting – or hoping for – a fiery anti-American speech must be quite disappointed,” he said. “Although it contained criticism of Western policies and the states who have supported ISIS, he refrained from calling them out by name.”

“Instead, much of his focus was on presenting an alternative vision for the region, one that of course would put Iran at the center of leadership and exclude the US from a strong role. Repeating the long-standing Iranian mantra that the region’s ills are primarily a result of foreign intervention and that a durable solution will not be found until regional states increase their cooperation rather than following outside powers as they impose policies on the region, Rouhani called for moderates in the region to lead. And according to him, those moderates are neither pro-West nor anti-West. Rouhani was moving the ‘West’ away from the center of his analysis and towards the periphery. All to make space for Iran — 'the moderates who have public support' — to fill that center.”

Speaking on the eve of the speech, Dina Esfandiary from the International Institute for Strategic Studies predicted Rouhani would be keen to present a “conciliatory Iran," which he did, not least by referring to it as the most “tranquil and stable country" in the region, while at the same time admonishing those who had rejected Iran’s help in the past. After all, President Rouhani said, Iran had called for “a World Against Violence and Extremism” prior to the current crisis, and even appealed for dialogue before 9/11.

Security and Human Rights 

But Amnesty International’s Raha Bahreini said there was a huge gap between some of President Rouhani’s key messages today and the reality in Iran. The president spoke of a region thirsty for economic development and peace. The people were tired of war, he said. “But the security of a country is always tied to human rights,” Bahreini said. “President Rouhani talks of violence and extremism in the region, but he must deal with this within Iran too. Members of ethnic and religious communities, human rights advocates and political activists regularly face violence and extremism, are given long prison sentences and even sentenced to execution, sometimes only for peacefully expressing their rights to freedom of religion and freedoms of expression, association and assembly.” She said during the speech Rouhani encouraged other countries to reject extremism, but that it was his responsibility to “demand this from hardliners within Iran too.”

“At one point in his speech, President Rouhani referred to the fact that Iran observes international law,” she said, “but President Rouhani has yet to take decisive steps to ensure respect for Iran’s commitments under international human rights law, including the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the Convention on Rights of the Child.”

“The speech began with the usual ideological statements intended for a domestic audience in particular,” said Dina Esfandiary from the International Institute for Strategic Studies. “But Rouhani then outlined a relatively optimistic view of the nuclear negotiations, including dangling the prospect of future collaboration or coordination with the International community on regional security issues, which was notable.”

The president, who was due to present his speech to the 69^th General Assembly at around 9.30, did not take to the podium until about an hour later, catching the Twittersphere off guard and leading to speculation that he’d asked for his speech to be pushed back because he “wasn’t ready”. 

Iranian-American journalist Negar Mortazavi said Rouhani’s address was “brief, to the point, and had two clear messages.”

“It seems like Iran is ready to cooperate with the West on fighting extremism in the region,” she said, “but wants to make the rules loud and clear — that territories and sovereignty must be respected.”

On the nuclear issue, Mortazavi and others said Rouhani’s comments reiterated his message during Wednesday’s speech at the New America Foundation. “He mentioned that Iran wants a deal and is ready and serious about it. He keeps insisting on the fact that the people of Iran voted for him, for moderation and prudence, and to ease tensions with the neighbors and the world.” #Constructiveengagement has been one of Rouhani’s most-used hashtags in recent days, whether meeting with the UK’s David Cameron or Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

“I think it is very important that he constantly emphasizes the election and the people,” said Mortazavi. “This gives him the upper hand in the West, as a democratic head of state.” And it rather nicely sets the scene for selling that image of a safe, reliable, and intelligent force in the region.