Iran’s Emerging Soft Power: New Opportunity for Iranians and the World

Hessameddin Vaez-Zadeh, Tehran University Professor and Secretary General of the Council on International Relations of Iran, in an interview with foreign policy correspondent of Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA), expressed a need to identify Iran’s potential soft power at domestic and international affairs in the benefit of Iranian educated work force and international counterparts.
Secretary General of the Council says that such a council was formed during the last few months and that a lot of researchers and the country's elite are in favor to co-operate with the council. He added that we are closely working with both universities and the private sectors to benefit from new domestic and international environments available in post- nuclear talks.
Dr. Vaez-Zadeh said “we are trying to create incentives to manufacturers in the private sector and at the same time, recognizing the global markets through our international experts who provide assistance to Iran’s investors as well as private production sectors. We are happy to provide academic and professional advice. This would lead to booming our domestic economy and would also create further job opportunities for Iranian young and educated professionals. “
Secretary General of the Council on International Relations of Iran highlighted that it is important that the world know we are not only interested in having foreign investment, but a high standard of Iran’s commodities and productions for export to the world. It is now a priority concern of the government and Iranian private companies. This is Iran’s new peaceful soft power, promoting cooperation and stability in the Middle East and the world in this critical and uncertain time.
He continued that Iranian private companies and businessmen really need a constant help and advice in the new international development available to Iran and the world for cooperation: for example, Iranian traders and potential private sectors do not really know the opportunities of Russian or European markets for exporting high standard goods manufactured in Iran. This requires deep expertise, local and regional scientific studies and continuous and cyclical field work.
Professor Vaez-Zadeh noted the importance of teaching Persian language in universities around the world and said: Unfortunately, many libraries in prestigious universities of the world, have very few books in Persian, suffering not only from lack of new scholarly books in Persian but from experts in teaching Persian language. He added “we have to start a translating movement for bringing Iranian books into living world languages, we are in the council ready to provide assistance and expertise to publishers and research institutes in this important issue.”
The Secretary General also marked the rise of Iran’s tourism industry as positive aspect of Iran’s soft power. He expressed hope that with the support of government and the private sector in the country “we will be able to create new jobs and take advantage of introducing Iran’s rich culture and peaceful civilization to the world.”