TEHRAN/GENEVA – Geneva was a key hub for the government's multilateral diplomacy, which led martyr Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian to visit the city four times last year. 

During these trips, he delivered speeches at major international meetings and met with his counterparts and the heads of international organizations based in Geneva. 
In this interview, Ali Bahraini, the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Iran to the United Nations in Geneva, discusses the diplomatic abilities of the late Foreign Minister with the Tehran Times.

What do you think were the most important qualities of Martyr Amir Abdollahian as a diplomat?

Patience and composure, along with a dedicated pursuit of national interests. Those familiar with foreign policy understand that diplomacy is a process that matures and yields results over time. Professional diplomats seize every opportunity to secure benefits and avert threats while avoiding hasty decisions. Effective navigation in foreign policy requires insight, strategy, planning, and deliberate perseverance. The late Amir Abdollahian exemplified patience, prudence, and composure, all while being dedicated to national interests. This approach was evident during his trips to Geneva and his numerous meetings with foreign representatives. His methodical approach enabled him to gradually resolve difficult and sometimes seemingly impossible issues, creating new opportunities for Iran's foreign policy. His patience and forbearance were not just accidental but were the results of active and rigorous self-discipline. The late Amir Abdollahian was a self-made diplomat.

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution recently referred to Foreign Minister Amir Abdollahian as a 'strong negotiator'. Could you elaborate on this?

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution described the late Amir Abdollahian as an active, hardworking, innovative Foreign Minister, a strong negotiator, intelligent, and committed to principles and fundamentals. Notably, when highlighting his strong negotiation skills, he specifically referred to the session reports of Amir Abdollahian’s negotiations, emphasizing his strength in this area. The Leader's remarks stem from a long and close acquaintance with the late Amir Abdollahian and are not mere formalities. A strong negotiator must first be well-versed in the main frameworks of negotiation. Secondly, they must be relentless and resilient in securing national interests, possessing high national confidence. Thirdly, they must be skilled in negotiation techniques, including understanding the personal and cultural characteristics of their counterparts. Our martyr minister excelled in all three areas. His deep understanding of the West Asia region contributed significantly to his success, particularly in advancing neighborhood policy and fostering understanding within the Islamic world. He was also very receptive to consultation, utilizing the opinions of experts at all levels. Given the diverse responsibilities of the Geneva representation and his frequent trips to Geneva, he would often engage in patient and respectful dialogues with experts before making decisions. His resilience and tirelessness in advancing national interests were unwavering, and he never hesitated to take the right actions. His intelligence and special attention to the backgrounds and interests of his negotiation counterparts further underscored his negotiation skills.

As Iran's representative to international organizations, you worked closely with the minister. What do you consider his main strength and achievement during his tenure?

Identifying a single strength or achievement of his tenure is very challenging. In bilateral relations, the renewed closeness with Arab countries, especially Saudi Arabia and Egypt, was significant, with the late Amir Abdollahian playing a pivotal role. While many factors contributed to this improvement, it was Amir Abdollahian's expertise and personal capacities that were crucial. In multilateral relations, one notable achievement was the significant increase in direct participation and the elevated level of engagement in international meetings.

About four months ago, the late Amir Abdollahian attended the 55th Human Rights Council session and the Disarmament Conference in Geneva. How was his presence and activity in this session, and what were his key agenda items?

He visited Geneva four times during his ministry. First for the Disarmament Conference and the 52nd Human Rights Council session in March 2023, then in November 2023 for discussions with international officials on Palestine following the October 7 attack by the Zionist regime (on Gaza). His third visit was for the Global Refugee Forum in mid-December 2023, and his fourth for the 55th Human Rights Council session and the UN Disarmament Conference in March 2024.

His first visit to Geneva coincided with the unrest following the death of Mahsa Amini and the peak of the Russia-Ukraine war. The purpose of this trip was to clarify our country's stance on global developments and deliver a local perspective on internal issues. At that time, the Human Rights Council had hostile arrangements against our country, and it was necessary to present the facts about Iran's responsibility and human rights observance. Given the national context following Mahsa Amini's death, there were natural doubts about the martyr minister's participation and speech at that session. Ultimately, after consulting experts and thoroughly analyzing the situation, he decided to attend the session with his characteristic patience, calm, firmness, and national confidence. By God's grace, he showcased Iran's power without any issues.
During his trips to Geneva, he held dozens of meetings and engaged with key international actors, including government officials, heads of international organizations, and even non-governmental activists, to advance national interests and clarify our country's positions. Besides his presence in Geneva, he also participated and spoke virtually at numerous meetings, including those on Afghanistan after the Taliban's takeover and the Human Rights Council session condemning Quran burnings.

During the funeral and tribute ceremonies, we saw the presence of high-level delegations from dozens of countries and their respects in various international forums. What is your assessment and analysis of this?

Iran holds an important position in the world. Naturally, some global platforms are dissatisfied with this and invest heavily in tarnishing Iran's image through international media. However, sometimes God provides opportunities to reveal the true face of Iran to the world. The Islamic-Iranian demeanor of martyr Amir Abdollahian as Iran's principal envoy to the global forums over the past three years significantly helped maintain and enhance our country's image. Many officials who came to sign the martyr’s memorial book at the representation office acknowledged this. During his trips to Geneva, he met with many of his counterparts, and numerous resident ambassadors in Geneva were present at these meetings. He was respected by all of them. International organization officials also held special respect for Iran and the minister himself. During one of his trips to Geneva, the heads of four international humanitarian organizations jointly met with him at his hotel and had constructive discussions, especially on the topic of Afghan nationals in Iran, which has recently gained attention. Such meetings are rare and happen only because of Iran's high status and the unique personality of our late minister, benefiting the Iranian people.

The massive and grand public turnout for the funeral and ceremonies of the martyrs, what messages do you think this sends to friends and foes of the Islamic Republic of Iran abroad?

Naturally, the world watched Iran closely after this tragic event. I think the people of Iran demonstrated well that despite all international pressures and restrictions, they support their political system in critical moments. One of the benefits of the martyr’s sacrifice was that the world witnessed this scene firsthand. Another significant issue is the resilience and adaptability of the Islamic Republic of Iran's political system in difficult conditions. The fact that after the martyrdom of the president and the foreign minister, the country continued its natural course based on internal structures and constitutional capacities, without disruption to its main programs, wards off many threats against dear Iran. All these are the blessings of the services and pure intentions of our martyrs.

In conclusion, I pray to Almighty God to make us true followers of our beloved martyrs and grant us the success to strive wholeheartedly for national interests and the elevation of truth in the world, and may our life's end be martyrdom in the path of Islam and Iran.