Former Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif argues that the recent wars in the Middle East have exposed the limits of military power and demonstrated that lasting stability cannot be imposed by force or imported from outside the region. Instead, he contends, it must be built through agreements among the countries of the region themselves. In a lengthy article published in Foreign Affairs entitled "An Iranian Vision of the New Middle East," Zarif presents what he sees as a comprehensive roadmap for ending the conflict between Iran and the United States and reshaping the regional security architecture of West Asia.

The Collapse of the Understanding and the Return to War

Zarif begins by discussing the collapse of the memorandum of understanding reached between Tehran and Washington in Switzerland. He argues that conflicting interpretations of its provisions particularly those concerning the Strait of Hormuz made its breakdown inevitable.

According to Zarif, neither side benefits from continued conflict. Iran, he argues, sees itself as fighting a war imposed upon it, while the United States has become entangled in a costly confrontation that distracts it from its broader strategic objective of shifting its focus toward the Indo-Pacific.

War and the Limits of Military Deterrence

Zarif maintains that the latest confrontation tested not only the military capabilities of Iran, Israel, and the United States, but also the broader concepts of deterrence and coercion.

He argues that attacks on Iran's infrastructure and political and military leadership failed to bring about regime change or force Tehran to alter its strategic course. Instead, he says, they strengthened the Iranian public's determination to defend the country's sovereignty, demonstrating that any future regional security framework cannot succeed if it seeks to exclude Iran.

The Strait of Hormuz: From Commercial Waterway to National Security Issue

A significant portion of the article is devoted to the Strait of Hormuz, which Zarif describes as having acquired a fundamentally different strategic meaning for Iran since the outbreak of war.

Whereas Tehran previously viewed maritime navigation through the Strait under peacetime rules, it now considers the passage of vessels carrying military equipment or technologies that could later be used against Iran as part of its national security equation.

He argues that Iran's restrictions on maritime traffic should not be viewed as economic coercion but rather as wartime measures aimed at protecting national security. At the same time, he acknowledges that a prolonged closure of the Strait could encourage the international community to develop alternative trade routes, potentially depriving Iran of one of its most important strategic assets.

Toward a New Framework for U.S. Iran Relations

Zarif proposes replacing the current cycle of confrontation with a framework based on mutual non-aggression.

Under his proposal, the United States would lift sanctions, recognize Iran's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and contribute to rebuilding the damage caused by the war. In return, Iran would provide permanent guarantees that it would not seek nuclear weapons by strengthening cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and giving legal force to the Iranian religious decree (fatwa) prohibiting the production of nuclear weapons.

He also argues that Tehran and Washington could cooperate on issues of mutual concern, including the stabilization of Afghanistan, combating drug trafficking, and managing migration.

Israel: The Main Obstacle to Peace

One of the article's strongest sections focuses on Israel.

Zarif argues that successive Israeli governments have played a central role in undermining efforts to reduce tensions between Iran and the United States. He contends that Israel opposed both the 2015 nuclear agreement and more recent diplomatic understandings, accusing it of seeking to keep the region in a permanent state of conflict through its policies in Gaza, Lebanon, and the occupied Palestinian territories.

From this perspective, he calls on the United States to exert genuine pressure on Israel if it truly seeks lasting peace in the Middle East.

Lebanon in Iran's Regional Vision

The article also addresses Lebanon, with Zarif arguing that respect for Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity should form an essential component of any future regional settlement.

He criticizes what he sees as inconsistencies in U.S. policy, arguing that Washington publicly supports Lebanese sovereignty while simultaneously promoting arrangements that, in his view, undermine that objective.

Regional Security: A Responsibility of Regional States

According to Zarif, the security model based on dependence on external powers has failed.

Instead, he advocates the creation of a regional security architecture led by Middle Eastern countries themselves, beginning with a permanent framework for dialogue among the Gulf states based on mutual respect, non-interference in internal affairs, confidence-building measures, and ultimately non-aggression arrangements.

He also calls for regional institutions dedicated to counterterrorism cooperation, humanitarian assistance, and media and cultural dialogue among the peoples of the region.

Nuclear and Economic Cooperation

Zarif's vision extends beyond security into economic and scientific cooperation.

He proposes establishing a regional uranium enrichment consortium for peaceful nuclear purposes, involving Iran and neighboring countries with the support of major powers, in order to strengthen confidence and ensure the exclusively peaceful use of nuclear energy.

He also advocates creating a regional development and reconstruction fund to finance infrastructure, railway networks, energy corridors, ports, digital infrastructure, and joint initiatives to address climate change and water scarcity.

A Vision for the Region's Future

Zarif concludes that the Middle East possesses all the necessary ingredients to become a prosperous and integrated region, citing its natural resources, Arab financial capital, Iran's scientific capabilities, and the industrial strengths of Turkey and Pakistan.

While acknowledging that decades of mistrust make such a transformation difficult, he argues that the recent wars have demonstrated the limits of military solutions. In his view, lasting regional security will only be possible if all parties accept Iran as a permanent component of the regional order and embrace cooperation rather than exclusion or external intervention as the foundation for future stability.

Editorial Note

This article presents a summary of the key ideas advanced by former Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in his article published in Foreign Affairs. It reflects the author's own views and arguments. DiasporaEcho has prepared this summary to provide readers with insight into one of the perspectives currently shaping the debate on the future of regional security in the Middle East. Its publication does not imply that DiasporaEcho endorses or adopts the opinions or analyses expressed in the original article.

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