The International Day of Friendship meeting was hosted by Salaam Global Foundation in association with Mahestan Institute and Managers of Iran Industries Association.

Greeting the members of the panel in the beginning of this convention, Dr. Alireza Moyeri, the head of the board of the trustees of SGF, introduced Dr. Mohammad Jafar Mahallati, Dr. Naser Hadian and Yasser Salimi. Thereafter, Yasser Salimi, head of the International Relations and Diplomacy Committee of SGF as the head of the panel asked Dr.Mahallati to start his speech. Dr. Mohammad Jafar Mahallati, Professor of Islamic Studies at Oberlin College, started his speech on manifest of friendship saying that 200 years ago no one believed that slavery would be abolished but in today’s world slavery is not accepted in any culture or political system. Martin Luther King, leader of the black movement in the US, wished that war would be vanished just like slavery. The ontology of friendship stems from philosophy and sociology. Man is supposed to discover the beauties of the creation which is the commencement of friendship. The question which arises is “why did God create everything in pairs?” The foundation for this is the creation of friendship and rapport. Knowing the nature of friendship in contemplation. Abu Ali Miskawayh said that the word “ Ensan” (human) stems from “ons” (getting used to).  In the sociology of friendship, the empowerment is in question which belongs to the paradigm of power in which there is unconstructive rivalry and it is recommended endearment to be considered instead.

Religion paradigm is thanks centered and there is question of ethical religion or religious ethics. The basis for religion is to be ethical but as we have 25 ethical schools it should be clear what is basis for choosing one of them. The school should be chosen which is kindness centered and result of ethic is friendship. Kant liberal philosophy is self centered which is most important value. Freedom is not value but a coin for buying for things. Philosophy and friendship were same at first but philosophy nowadays justifies otherness and war. just war was emerged later and religions justified it. Hana Ardent says friendship is axis of democracy and democracy is friendship centered. Khaje Nasir Toosi says most important thing in society is equity. But equity is driven from dividing which result to eagerness and unity could not be driven from equity and justice. UN Charter is based on tolerance and peaceful co-existence while tolerance is negative. Neybur, American scholar has a book called beyond tolerance. For new UN charter there is need for paradigm shift. Imam Ghazali says friend is mirror of his friend and you can know everyone by knowing his friend. This principle could be used in international relations and need more research. Friendship is highest form of peace. Basic peace is absence of warm war. With war ethics we could have ceasefire. Cold war and cold peace could be solved by apology in international relations. Mandela and Gandhi made some steps in this way. Spain government apologized from Jews deported from this country in 2014. Peace literature is weak in Iran and friendship could be defined as an ideology.  In Miskawayh theory of Imamat role of Imam is conserving peace entities in society. Justice is for basic societies. Ethical social life is not creatable. Shaykh Bahayee says there is no science rather than love. Keeping health is connected to social relations. Hojweiri says for Sufi being alone is death and friendship is a duty. Saadi consider whole globe as friendship area. In Arabic there more than 60 words for friendship and 70 percent of Mystical Islamic literature is in Persian.

Next speaker Dr. Nasser Hadian, Professor of International Relations in University of Tehran started his speech. He considered Dr. Mahallati speech as paradigm for good international community and added: our problem is less discussion about ideal conditions. He talked about de-securitizing international community toward Iran and described securitizing reasons first. He said: revolutions basically challenge current order and want to change it. The countries with more power which made the order will challenge them. US tried to securitize Iran several times but could not until former Iran administration it succeeded to show Iran is a treat for global peace and security and UNSC resolutions are an evidence for it.

When it happened the expenses for everything for Iran was raised. Expense for a normal economic transaction was raised. before UNSC reoltuins Iran was sanctioned but with no effect and from this time other countries join it. Before that Europe was against sanctions. So they understood that sanctions are effective. It was result of successful securitization.

About JCPOA I asked 3 questions. What we want? Why and at what expense? Most of critics do not make it clear what they want and only argue. Despite my critics I defended it since it has more advantages. Five result of JCPOA are these: Defeating strategic dead-end with defeat at one side and war on the other side. US now try hard to securitize Iran again. Second de-securitization and we are on this way. Third is normalization. In former administration an abnormal image of Iran was presented to the world. Iran negotiators tried to show a normal image from Iran and other thing is normalization of diplomatic relations. Fourth result is making opportunity to deal with regional problems since there is insecurity all around Iran and most dangerous is Pakistan which is not comparable to Iraq and Afghanistan. Before that all efforts were concentrated on nuclear issue. Fifth is suspension of sanctions expects some major banks many of problems were solved.

If Iran suspends JCPOA US will benefit. While Iran as a small power challenge a super power it is natural and has no relation with JCPOA. It is due to unequal power. In track 2 diplomacy we can make entities. In US people and entities are diverse and they don’t think the same way. Result of track 2 diplomacy is making trust which is basis for friendship. No basis for trust and friendship between Iran and US are made. Relations between governments are not an alternative for people relations and if it is not solved relations will not be deep.

In the end of meeting question and answer session was held and participants asked questions from speakers.

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