“I am optimistic about the future of Iran” says UN Resident Coordinator after implementation day

This “implementation day” is a historical moment.  Historical in many senses.  Historical because Iranians will soon start to see the sanctions being lifted one by one – nuclear-related sanctions which have had a very damaging impact.  But historical also because professional diplomacy and dialogue have emerged triumphant over acrimony and conflict, AVA Diplomatic reports.

However, as important as the lifting of sanctions will be, there are other – potentially much more impactful – consequences of implementation.  These are better relations with the international community and a continuing and expanding re-engagement of Iran in helping to address some of the Middle East’s most vexing challenges.  These challenges are simply too vast for Iran to continue to be sidelined, especially when all indications clearly point to the positive impact of such engagement.

I consider the top two challenges to be extremist violence and the environment.

Take the first – extremist violence.  We are now seeing this explode across the region and even beyond.  Part of the solution to this problem will come from mature statesmanship and leadership.  And, for this, definitely Iran needs to be at the table.

The second challenge takes the form of a hotter, drier Middle East.  Climate change will increasingly impact Iran as part of this process and Iran will need to draw upon – and contribute to – solutions available from the international community.

So the implementation of the nuclear accord can open up all sorts of possibilities for engagement and a new and positive direction to both Middle East and – potentially – global affairs.

More than this, through increased engagement, we all hope that the world will once again be able to “taste” – and learn from – the vast depth of Iran’s culture and history.

So I am optimistic about the future of Iran.  I am optimistic about how this nuclear deal will contribute to such a future.  And, in this future, where we hope to see greater tolerance, cooperation and partnerships, the UN – which has been working on the ground in Iran since 1950 – remains here ready to respond and partner on promoting peace, development, justice and human rights as our mandate requires us to do.

Gary Lewis

UN Resident Coordinator, Islamic Republic of Iran