Iran's President Hassan Rouhani seeks 'constructive dialogue' to end terrorism

Iran’s newly-elected moderate President Hassan Rouhani is advocating the use of constructive dialogue to resolve global issues such as wars and terrorism.

In an opinion piece in the Washington Post, Rouhani said that he is committed to fulfilling his promises he made to the people, including his pledge to engage in constructive interaction with the world. He wrote that international politics is no longer a ‘zero-sum game but a multi-dimensional arena where cooperation and competition often occur simultaneously’.

He said that the international community faces many challenges such as terrorism, extremism, foreign military interference, drug trafficking, cybercrime and cultural encroachment in the new world, all achieved after using brute force. He added that for him constructive engagement means a world where global politics is no longer a zero-sum game, but a counterintuitive to pursue one’s interests without considering the interests of others. He said that unilateral approach, which glorifies brute force and breeds violence, is clearly incapable of solving issues such as terrorism and extremism.

He added that for Iran, mastering the atomic fuel cycle and generating nuclear power is about diversifying the country’s energy resources, as it is about who Iranians are as a nation. Rouhani said that he was committed to confronting the common challenges via a two-pronged approach, which were joining hands to constructively work towards national dialogue, whether in Syria or Bahrain.

Second, address the broader, overarching injustices and rivalries that fuel violence and tensions. He said that a key aspect of his commitment to constructive interaction entails a sincere effort to engage with neighbors and other nations to identify and secure win-win solutions

Rouhani wrote the article just days before he is set to make his first appearance as Iran's president on the world stage when he attends the United Nations General Assembly in New York.