Soleimani’s death excludes chances of peace in Middle East ‘in the couple of years to come’ – opinions

The developments unfolding after the death of the top Iranian militay commander in Baghdad have brought the United States and Iran close to a strategic confrontation, according to Ruben Safrastayan, the Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies.  

“With the tactical phase being now complete, the confrontation is now likely to enter into the strategic domain. Iran has plainly stated that it will do its best to end US armed troops’ presence in the Middle East. This is a goal with major implications,” he said at a news conference on Friday.  

Referring to Donal Trump’s pre-electoral promise to weaken Washington’s presence in different regions, Safrastyan said he doesn’t see that the US president has succeeded in realizing the plan.

“The world is entering into a new phase in terms of international relations, I do not expect peace in the Middle East in the couple of years to come. The two countries have already declared their objectives, so we now have to wait and see the future course of events,” he added.

The expert also highlighted Turkey’s clearly stated objective to be a regional leader and decision-maker. “Turkey is embarking on a new foreign policy phase which implies the use of their Armed Forces. Turkey’s foreign policies have virtually stepped into a very dangerous period with the neighors. They are not failing to use their potential, which is the strongest in the Middle East indeed,” Safrastyan said.

Vardan Voskanyan, an expert in Iranian studies also attending the news conference, noted that the Iranian society is strongly consolidated after Suleimani’s death (with the anti-government social rebelions having essentially decreased in number). “We have the kind of Iran which has really consolidated in the face of external hazards. Suleimani’s killing was, in this this sense, not just a military loss; with his death he keeps on serving his people.”

The Islamic Republic launched missile attacks against US military bases in Iraq after Major-General Qasem Suleimani, the commander of the Quds Force in the  Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), was shot dead in a US-led airstrike on January 3.

Iran later moved to declare Pentagon a terrorist organization, with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei pledging revenge for the commander’s killing.