Iran is on a diplomatic offensive, seeking to make an end run around the Israel-Hezbollah escalating clashes to isolate Israel using the upcoming 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly. New Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian flew to the US on Sunday to participate. Iran’s IRNA state media is highlighting how Iran’s new foreign minister prepared the ground for the president’s arrival.
“Since his arrival in New York to attend the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has held a number of bilateral meetings with foreign counterparts as well as UN and other international figures,” IRNA reported on September 22.
Araghchi spoke with Sigrid Kaag, senior humanitarian and reconstruction coordinator for Gaza, on the sidelines of the UNGA, Iranian media reported. Iran is apparently seeking to play a role in Gaza’s reconstruction, meaning that Iran will want to help rebuild Hamas tunnels and exploit the international community to accomplish that task.
“Kaag and Araghchi exchanged views on a number of regional issues, especially the situation in Gaza and the ways UN is leading aid and humanitarian efforts in the besieged Palestinian strip,” IRNA noted. Iran may also be trying to help Hamas hijack humanitarian aid to control Gaza.
Araghchi said that the “Israel regime will not achieve the goal of increasing tension and war, but will receive decisive response for its crimes,” a separate report noted.
He is leading a delegation as well, showing how much importance Iran places on this. Iran wants the UN to focus on its neighborhood, which it refers to as West Asia. This is all about using the UN against Israel. Majid Takht-Ravanchi, Iran’s deputy foreign minister for political affairs, and Kazem Gharibabadi, the deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs, both traveled with Araghchi to New York.
Iran is also working with non-Western groups at the UN. IRNA noted these include the Non-Aligned Movement, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, BRICS, and others. It is using these groups to advance the “discussion of increasing tension and the criminal actions of the Zionist regime, which must be confronted by the international community.”
Nasrallah in contact with Iran, other pro-Iranian groups
Iran has supported Hamas’s attack on Israel and pushed its proxies to carry out attacks over the past year. However, Iran is now posing as the responsible regime and pretending it is Israel that is driving the region to greater chaos.
Araghchi also met with his Cuban and Kuwaiti counterparts. “While meeting with Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Abdullah Ali al-Yahya on Saturday evening local time, Araghchi called the occupying Zionist regime very dangerous for peace and security, urging the regional countries to cooperate to prevent the evil acts of this regime,” IRNA noted. Iranian media referred to Gaza as a “quagmire” for Israel. This is clearly the goal of Iran. It wants to create a quagmire in Gaza for Israel and use the endless war of attrition there to weaken Israel.
Araghchi sent a message to Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, commemorating the late Hezbollah leader Ibrahim Aqil. This is one of a number of messages that Nasrallah has received from pro-Iranian groups in the region.
Araghchi also met with the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Saturday, IRNA noted. While the ICRC has not met with Israeli hostages held in Gaza, its head found time to meet with Iran’s foreign minister even as Iran supports Hamas and Hezbollah. “Araghchi received Mirjana Spoljaric Egger at his place of residence in New York and discussed a wide range of issues revolving around ICRC’s mission in West Asia, particularly its work to save war-ravaged Palestinians in Gaza,” IRNA noted.
Additionally, Araghchi met with Geir O. Pedersen, the UN special envoy for Syria. Iran has supported the Syrian regime via backing militias.