SAEDNEWS: Voices within Iran’s political landscape caution that portraying negotiation as secondary to military action risks undermining national cohesion and legal foundations at a critical moment.
According to Saed News, a recent commentary in the Iran daily has taken aim at what it describes as a “false dichotomy” between battlefield operations and diplomatic negotiation, arguing that both wings are indispensable components of Iran’s strategic defence. The piece warns that reducing diplomacy to a mere sideshow or demanding that the Foreign Ministry act beyond its mandate in setting policy not only fractures public trust but inadvertently plays into adversaries’ hands.
Citing the Supreme Leader’s directives—from his 23 Farvardin 1401 Ramadan address urging respectful treatment of front‑line diplomats, to his 12 Ordibehesht 1400 pronouncement that foreign policy resides with the Supreme National Security Council—the article reminds readers that negotiation is coordinated at the highest levels. It highlights that during the recent 12‑day conflict, Iranian envoys worked in parallel with the armed forces, helping to secure a ceasefire through sustained back‑channel engagement.
Drawing on historical precedent, the commentary notes that even the eight‑year Iran‑Iraq war concluded at the negotiating table, underscoring that ultimate victory often requires dialogue. It cautions that inflammatory calls to “prioritise the field” over talks risk mobilising society behind new fault lines, eroding the collective resolve that has long defined Iran’s defence posture.
In closing, the piece argues for a holistic “hybrid‑warfare” strategy—one that marries robust deterrence, skilful diplomacy, media engagement and social solidarity—to safeguard national interests and preserve unity in the face of external pressures.
