March 29, 2024

Syria government press and Lebanese media call Iran nuke deal a “victory” for Iran, which finally managed to “subdue the West” and has now become a nuclear state

As Islam commands of the non-believer:

MEMRI: The Syria government press and the Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar, which is known for its support for Hizbullah and the resistance axis, called the agreement a “victory” for Iran, which, they said, had finally managed to “subdue the West” and has now become a nuclear state. Al-Akhbar even claimed that the Iran-Syria-Russia-Hizbullah axis is stronger as a result of the agreement.

The Saudi press expressed reservations regarding the agreement along with fears that it would start a regional arms race or strengthen Iran’s position in the region at the expense of its neighbors.Other Arab papers claimed that the agreement proves that the world recognizes the strong and withdraws in the face of steadfast positions like those of Iran. Some even predict the advent of an American-Iranian alliance at the expense of Arab countries, which appear weak and unable to formulate a joint strategy.At the same time, some articles called for going even farther and for working for nuclear disarmament across the Middle East by dismantling and destroying Israel’s nuclear arsenal.This report reviews reactions to the Geneva agreement in the Arab press.

Saudi ‘Al-Watan‘: The Countries Of The region Have Many Problems With Iran Besides The Nuclear Issue

An editorial in the government Saudi daily Al-Watan stated: “…The way in which U.S. President Barack Obama described the agreement yesterday – a path toward a world that is more secure – is only a partial description, since the purpose of the agreement is to neutralize a nuclear Iran. As for the military imperialist Iran, which sends its tentacles into other regional countries, or [at least] tries to do so by all means necessary – [this Iran] has yet to be neutralized or to receive stern messages from the international community to cease doing so. This means that the problem with Iran, provided that it commits to the agreement [signed with the 5+1 group], was solved vis-Ă -vis the international community at the [current] stage, but not vis-Ă -vis the countries of the region…

“The problem faced by countries that neighbor [Iran] is not just the nuclear issue, but a variety of issues of which Iran and the 5+1 group are aware. These issues neither begin nor end with [Iran’s] support for factions that spark riots in other countries, [or with] its sending its forces to kill the Syrian people to defend Bashar Al-Assad’s regime. Is Iran willing to solve all these issues in a way that would satisfy the countries of the region and their peoples? Herein lays the problem. As for the solution, it is in Iran’s hands, if it decides to change for the better and distance itself from dubious ambitions.”

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Iran the big winner (Al-Watan, Saudi Arabia, November 25, 2013)

Saudi ‘Al-Sharq’: We Fear That Iran Has Been Given Excessive Freedom Of Action In The Region In Exchange For Nuclear Concessions

The Saudi daily Al-Sharq‘seditorial expressed fear that in return for the nuclear agreement, Iran received concessions from the 5+1 group on solving the Syrian problem and authorization to operate more freely in the region while interfering in other countries’ affairs: “The Middle East treats the agreement cautiously due to the fear that Iran made concessions in the nuclear dossier in return for more freedom of action in the region or privileges in the Syrian conflict… The U.S. administration sacrificed the decision to punish Assad for using chemical weapons in the Al-Ghouta region of Damascus [in August 2013] in order to improve its relations with Russia… This raises fears that this scenario may repeat itself here, and that what remains of the Syrian problem will be sacrificed [to the cause of] signing an agreement with Iran that would end decades of tension between Washington and Tehran. If this happens, it will be a declaration by world powers that the authority of the international community has ended and that its role has been relinquished. No one wants the Geneva agreement on the Iranian nuclear issue to give Iran concessions that will allow it to continue interfering in the affairs of regional countries. 

Former Al-Sharq Al-Awsat Editor Tariq Alhomayed: A Regional Arms Race Is Now Wide Open

Tariq Alhomayed, former editor of the London-based Saudi Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, wrote: “…It is clear that there are two major winners [in the agreement] – Iran and Obama. Regarding Iran, it is no secret that President Rohani is wrestling with a debilitated domestic economy and needs [time] to recuperate, at any price. This agreement provides him with an important opportunity to recover. As for President Obama, the agreement allows him to avoid conflict with Iran and hand the crisis down to the president who succeeds him…

“We are faced with a bad agreement that more closely resembles a discussion of bad debts than a diplomatic agreement to defuse a crisis. It portends not only destruction and war, but also the advent of a wide-open nuclear arms race in the region. If Iran claimed that its nuclear program was for civilian purposes, what will now prevent other countries from attaining a similar program, that at any moment can turn into a full-fledged [military] nuclear program, as occurred in India and Pakistan?”

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The U.S. and Iran sign the precarious “nuclear agreement” (Al-Ittihad, UAE, November 25, 2013)

Egyptian ‘Al-Ahram’: A Historic Agreement That Will Strengthen Regional Stability And Security

In an editorial, the Egyptian daily Al-Ahram called the agreement an historic one that will increase the stability and security of the region: “The Western powers and Iran have reached a settlement regarding the [Iranian] nuclear program that could remove one of the main sources of tension and threat in the region. This agreement can be described as historic… Although the agreement is an interim one, it can be characterized as a first practical step that reassures the international community regarding Iran’s nuclear activity and ensures that [this activity] will be for peaceful [purposes] only. In addition, the agreement may enable Iran and the powers to turn over a new leaf [in their relations]…

“Though several countries and forces in the region, chiefly Saudi Arabia and Israel, oppose the agreement for various reasons, its expected contribution to strengthening the stability and security of the region must not be underestimated. Israel has attempted for years to recruit international forces to attack Iran’s nuclear [facilities], in order to serve its own interests, and this agreement will largely remove [the threat] of such a confrontation, for which Israel strives… [However,] since some Gulf countries still eye the agreement with suspicion and concern and believe its implications are unclear, there is no choice but to take additional steps that could assuage the fears of the region… and use [the agreement] that has been reached as a basis for a solution acceptable to all sides.”

‘Al-Quds Al-‘Arabi’: The Agreement Paves The Way For A U.S.-Iran Alliance At The Expense Of The Arab Region

The London-based daily Al-Quds Al-‘Arabi, which was recently purchased by Qatar, stated in its editorial: “Thirty-four years after the outbreak of Iran’s [Islamic] Revolution and its dangerous effects on the Arab and Islamic world, and after a protracted conflict with the West that has not yet ended, it appears that Iran is about to normalize its relations with the West and replace the violent revolutionary stance that typified its relations with it [the West] with gradual normalization leading to a comprehensive and permanent solution based on the agreement, and to international legitimacy [for Iran] and a distribution of the influence on the region…

“The agreement paves the way for a comprehensive regional settlement, [and] we believe the major Arab states will have little influence in [setting] its guidelines… Some believe that the agreement effectively paves the way to a U.S.-Iran alliance with Russian backing at the expense of the Arab region, [as previously happened] in Iraq, for example, and that Syria and Lebanon are expected to be its victims. [This alliance] will make use of Iran’s proxies in the region, such as the Shi’ite factions in Iraq and Hizbullah in Lebanon, in order to eliminate the organizations that are close to Al-Qaeda, such as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria and [Jabhat] Al-Nusra, now that  they have appeased Israel by eliminating Syria’s chemical weapons program.

“As long as the Arab states are incapable of planning and agreeing upon a regional and international strategy, this scenario will remain realistic and possible… The Arabs who were not invited to this joyous wedding will be content to emerge [from it] unscathed.”

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The U.S. and Iran sign the agreement on the Arab back (Al-Ghad, Jordan, November 25, 2013)

Syrian ‘Al-Thawra’: Iran Has Been Recognized As A Nuclear Power

An article in the Syrian government daily Al-Thawra published statements from across the world welcoming the agreement, under the headline “The Agreement between the 5+1 and Tehran Recognizes Iran’s Right to Enrich Uranium… Iran Has Been Recognized Globally as a Nuclear Power and the World Welcomes This…”

Syrian ‘Teshreen’: A Victory For Iran, Which Claimed Its Nuclear Right By Force And Pushed The West Into A Corner

The Syrian government daily Teshreen called the agreement “a victory for the diplomacy of Tehran, which claimed its right to enrichment by force.” An article reviewing the responses to the agreement stated: “[Despite] intensive international pressure, Iran managed, through a difficult marathon of negotiations over the nuclear dossier, to reliably establish its right to develop nuclear energy for civilian purposes, and managed to force official recognition of this right. During the last three rounds [of negotiations], Iran cornered the West, and with its steady positions and principles regarding cooperating with the international community, it managed to produce an agreement that lays the foundation for additional wise steps leading to a permanent arrangement and that has put the entire region in the history books…”

The Lebanese ‘Al-Akhbar’: “The West Has Capitulated – Iran Is Nuclear”; The Russia-Iran-Syria-Hizbullah Axis Has Grown Stronger

The Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar, which is affiliated with Hizbullah, published a number of articles on the implications of the agreement for Iran and the region. An article titled “The West Has Capitulated – Iran Is Nuclear” stated:  “Iran is celebrating its victory. Following intense efforts, it has finally managed to attain the world’s recognition of its right to nuclear [capabilities], despite the West’s efforts to deny it [this right].”

Sami Kleib, a columnist for the daily, agreed that Iran’s greatest achievement is “the world’s direct or indirect recognition of Iran’s right to enrich [uranium],” but also pointed to another Iranian achievement: “Iran has considerable military might and [engages in] extensive diplomatic activity, but it began to feel a real need for monetary sources. Things reached the point where [officials] with crucial [roles] in the strategic struggle were not paid their salaries. A fresh flow of funds into [the Iranian] banks is a very significant [achievement for this country…”

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